Pro-Palestine Protest Chaos Grips London: Activists Scale War Memorials and Disrupt Roads
Pro-Palestine protests erupted into chaos across London, as Gaza activists scaled some of Britain’s revered war memorials and brought major roads in the capital to a standstill.
War Memorial Desecration: Climbing the Royal Artillery Memorial
Flag-waving protesters climbed on the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner amidst a sea of poppies, following a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament that descended into mayhem.
Outrage Over Memorial Desecration
A video posted online of people on the sacred memorial sparked fury, but a statement from the Metropolitan Police insisted that the protesters had not broken any laws by their actions.
Dramatic Scenes at Trafalgar Square: Activists Surround Elderly Couple’s Car
Separate footage shared on social media showed activists dressed in green, red, and black swarming around an elderly couple’s car by Trafalgar Square, prompting police officers to race to the Cenotaph in Westminster amid fears that protesters would scale the memorial.
Rebellion Against Keir Starmer: Labour MPs Support SNP-Backed Ceasefire
The chaos unfolded as Sir Keir Starmer faced a major rebellion over his stance on the Gaza conflict, losing eight frontbenchers as dozens of Labour MPs in the Commons supported an SNP-backed ceasefire.
Police Response and Dispersal Order: Lack of Arrests Sparks Controversy
A dispersal order was in place across parts of the City of Westminster, but questions arose about the lack of arrests. In a statement, Scotland Yard clarified that there is no law explicitly making it illegal to climb on a memorial, though officers can intervene and make it clear the behavior isn’t acceptable.
Disruptions and Arrest: Impact on Buckingham Palace Area
All the roads around Buckingham Palace remained closed, causing disruptions to the morning commute. The statement from Scotland Yard explained the challenges faced by the police in preventing protesters from accessing the memorial, revealing that one arrest had been made at the protest for possession of an offensive weapon.