Police brace for protests outside US and Iranian embassies in London as Middle East war enters eighth day

Police patrols will be increased across London ahead of protests outside the US and Iranian embassies this weekend.

A Liberty Stage demonstration against the Iranian government will march from Whitehall to Kensington Road near Hyde Park in Knightsbridge, close to where the country’s embassy is located, on Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, a separate group of groups, including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, will travel from Millbank to the US embassy to call for an end to attacks on Iran.

The Metropolitan Police imposed conditions requiring protesters to stay on designated routes and finish their post-march rallies by 5pm to avoid ‘serious disruption’ in the capital.

The Middle East was thrown into chaos after the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint attack on Iran by the USA and Israel on Saturday.

Since then, Tehran and its allies have carried out retaliation across the region, targeting Israel, US bases in neighboring Gulf states, and regions critical to global oil and gas production.

Protesters supporting the Iranian regime and its late Supreme Leader broke out in Birmingham on Thursday night; Activists set fire to an Israeli flag and chanted ‘Death to the IDF’ at a memorial in Birmingham last night.

Dozens of protesters gathered in the city to condemn US-Israeli attacks on the country and mourn the death of former Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Meanwhile, a separate group of groups, including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), the Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, will travel from Millbank to the US embassy to call for an end to attacks on Iran. Picture: Protesters outside Parliament on 28 February

West Midlands Police told the Daily Mail it had launched an investigation into possible racially/religiously aggravated public order offences.

A similar vigil was held in Manchester on Wednesday, and police intervened again after around 800 people expressed support and opposition to the regime.

Participants burned photographs of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the event, which was described as ‘honoring the Ayatollah’ who was killed in the attacks on Iran on Saturday.

In London, a group of pro-Israel Iranians gathered outside the Israeli embassy in Kensington, west London, on Friday evening.

Photos have emerged online showing a crowd celebrating Israeli and US attacks on Iran, waving flags of Israel and Iran’s pre-Islamic regime.

Ahead of Saturday’s protest, Scotland Yard banned the use of amplified noise equipment and instruments for music or speeches to ‘limit disturbance to people living nearby’ at an anti-Iran government protest.

The force said it had increased patrols around “key areas” and “hardest affected communities” in recent days.

Assistant Deputy Commissioner James Harman said officers would ‘proactively intervene’ when necessary.

He said: ‘Strong emotions are bound to lead to protests or other public gatherings.

‘The job of the police is not to try to limit freedom of expression, but to ensure that it does not cause disorder or cause others to be threatened or intimidated.

‘We will ensure that ordinary life in London can continue without the protests causing serious disruption.’

He continued: ‘This intervention may include the imposition of conditions to prevent protests from taking place in certain locations in order to protect members of that community.

‘This could include, for example, preventing anti-Israel protests in Jewish communities, or taking steps to ensure that certain communities are not disturbed by anti-Iran protests taking place where they live.

‘Each protest will be evaluated individually.

‘Our discussions with important partners across London continue.

‘We meet regularly with representatives of the Muslim and Jewish communities and have increased our engagement with Iranian groups in recent weeks.’

Meanwhile, CND said a demonstration would be held at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire from 1pm on Saturday to oppose the use of the base by US bombers.

Sir Keir Starmer ruled on Sunday that UK bases, including the joint UK-US Diego Garcia site and RAF Fairford in the Chagos Islands, could be used in conflict so the US could strike defensively to protect countries targeted by Tehran.

Gloucestershire Constabulary said it would deploy officers to police the protest.

A US B-1 aircraft was spotted arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening; where more stealth bombers, including B-2s and B-52s, are expected to join him

The statement said: ‘We will provide a proportionate and lawful police response to any activity to keep everyone safe, minimize disruption and prevent crime or disorderly behavior from occurring.

‘Gloucestershire Constabulary will seek to make it easier for those taking part in peaceful protests to respect their freedom of expression, assembly and association, whilst balancing the needs and rights of the military base, local communities and the wider public.’

CND general secretary Sophie Bolt said: ‘We demand an end to the illegal bombing of Iran and an end to escalation.

‘International diplomacy and dialogue have never been more critical. Starmer needs to stand up to Trump and stop Britain’s active military support.

‘He needs to close all US bases that put Britain on the front lines.’

It comes as MPs and policing experts lead calls to ban annual marches in London in support of the Iranian regime.

The purpose of the Jerusalem demonstration, which will take place on March 15, is to express solidarity with the Palestinians and anti-Israel sentiment.

But there are new calls to block Jerusalem as Britain prepares plans to send a warship to defend the RAF air base in Cyprus, which was hit by an Iranian drone.

Marchers in Britain have previously carried flags of the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah and banners calling for the destruction of Israel.

The march is being organized by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), which has previously described the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as a ‘rare role model’.

Lord Pickles, the UK’s former special envoy for post-Holocaust Issues, said: ‘I am for freedom of expression and reasonable demonstrations, but I am taking the mickey out of the British constitution (by allowing this march to go ahead).

‘Given what’s going on in the world, I think it’s ridiculous that police resources are being diverted to something like this.’

Labor MP David Taylor added: ‘We cannot allow hundreds of people who support Iran’s hardline regime to march in London calling for attacks on Israel and death on the West.’