Clashes as police ‘kettle' Pro-Palestine protesters

Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested in Trafalgar Square yesterday on suspicion of breaching protest conditions after demonstrators broke through a police line as they marched from a rally in Whitehall.

- ELLIE NG

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) protest yesterday was adjusted to be a static rally after police curtailed organisers’ plans for a march past the BBC headquarters in Portland Place, which is close to a major synagogue.

But thousands of demonstrators, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and the party’s former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, marched towards Trafalgar Square from Whitehall after speeches were made at the rally.

Protesters met a line of police officers and eventually broke through, with those who made it to the square later finding themselves being held in one corner.

The Metropolitan Police warned the group to disperse or face arrest, later announcing: “Around 20 to 30 people who breached the conditions are still contained in Trafalgar Square. They are being arrested. Others have already been arrested.”

One masked activist stood on top of a police car waving a Palestine flag.