London pro-Palestinian march draws thousands and 20 arrests

Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London on Saturday, October 10, calling for an end to British arms sales to Israel. Organized by the Palestine Coalition, the procession moved from Victoria Embankment through Westminster Bridge to Whitehall.

While organizers estimated attendance at 250,000, police had anticipated between 7,000 and 10,000 participants. The Metropolitan Police reported 20 arrests during the event. These included six individuals suspected of criminal damage after climbing the Battle of Britain memorial, two people for refusing to remove face coverings, and two others for displaying placards supporting Palestine Action, an organization banned under British terrorism legislation. Other arrests involved suspected public order offenses and assaulting police officers.

A smaller pro-Israel counterdemonstration, organized by Stop The Hate, gathered outside New Scotland Yard. Police utilized barriers to keep the two groups separated throughout the demonstration.