London protest: Three arrested as protesters gathered in central London over Al Quds Day | UK | News
Police said three people were arrested during protests and counter-protests for Quds Day. Scotland Yard said on March 13 that it was preparing for a “challenging public order” environment and that at least 1,000 officers had been deployed to manage the crowds that would gather on Sunday.
In a post on Quds Day demonstrators chanted the controversial “river to sea” slogan and carried photos of Iran’s late leader during a static protest in London.
Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood accepted the police’s proposal to ban the annual march organized by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) for a month, marking the first such restriction on protests since 2012.
But people can still legally gather and participate in a so-called “static protest.” Participants in the Jerusalem Day protest were forced to gather at the Albert Embankment on the south bank of the River Thames.
Starting at 13:00, hundreds of people began to arrive; many were holding Palestinian flags and banners; Some of them were written “Free Palestine” and “No to Israeli occupation”.
Pictures of Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were also hung, some accompanied by the message “Choose the right side of history.”
Slogans “From river to sea” and “Israel is a terrorist state” were heard.
Following the terror attack on Bondi Beach, chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said slogans such as “from river to sea” and others “incite hatred” against Jews.
The Quds Day demonstration, held annually in London, was the target of criticism for open support for the Iranian regime after the organizers supported the country’s late leader.
A crowd of counter-protesters were seen across the River Thames during a demonstration organized by Stop The Hate. The group was allowed to assemble at Millbank on the north bank of the River Thames.
They waved Israeli flags and a sign read, “Hamas is terrorist.”
Police vans were parked along the road and on nearby Lambeth Bridge, and two police boats were seen on the River Thames.
This is thought to be the first time Scotland Yard has used the river as a physical barrier to keep a large-scale protest and counter-protest separate.
The Metropolitan Police said all protests and counter-protests must take place between Vauxhall and Lambeth bridges and are permitted between 1pm and 3pm.
Quds Day takes its name from the Arabic name for Jerusalem and is usually celebrated on the last Friday of Ramadan.
