Politics
Anti-lockdown mob clashes with cops in London as officers arrest 36 people after being pelted with bottles
ANTI-lockdown protesters clashed with cops in London as officers arrested 36 people after they were pelted with bottles.
Hundreds of maskless demonstrators marched through the capital yesterday to rally against Covid rules, just hours after the Met urged people not to join.
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Hundreds marched through the streets of London to protest against the lockdown rules[/caption]
Anti-lockdown protesters clash with cops yesterday[/caption]
Several demonstrators let off flares during the rally[/caption]
Crowds gathered to protest against the ongoing restrictions[/caption]
Officers detained one protester on the ground[/caption]
One woman holds a sign calling for ‘freedom’[/caption]
One woman held a sign which read: ‘lockdown is loneliness, homelessness, bankruptcy, domestic abuse, suicide’[/caption]
Another said ‘fear Westmonster not the virus’ as a green flare billowed in the crowd[/caption]
Hundreds made their way through London’s streets, causing traffic chaos[/caption]
Police officers and a protester in London yesterday[/caption]
Hundreds of demonstrators marched through the capital to rally against Covid rules[/caption]
Protesters began their march in Hyde Park, continuing towards Oxford Street and blocking off Park Lane – despite demonstrations being banned under lockdown restrictions.
Cops were forced to run back to their vans, as protesters threw bottles and cans at them in Hyde Park.
Around a hundred police officers wearing riot helmets and carrying shields arrived at Hyde Park and urged people to go home.
The Metropolitan Police said 36 people were arrested at the demonstration, adding: “Sadly, a number of officers were injured by crowds throwing bottles and other missiles. This is unacceptable (and) will not be tolerated.”
The force said: “A significant number of officers from across the Met were part of the policing operation, with many re-directed from frontline duties in local communities.
“While the large majority of people in attendance caused no trouble, officers did encounter pockets of disorder with crowds throwing bottles and other missiles and a number of officers were assaulted.”
A group of around one hundred chased police vehicles, punching and kicking them, as they left the area following a day of protests around central London.
Members of the public left the park, with small children carried by their parents.
Crowds of people held placards and chanted as they stormed the streets, with one banner reading “stop destroying our kids’ lives”.
Another woman held a sign which said: “Yes sex is great, but have you ever been f***ed by the Government?”
Officers from the Met Police were out in force to keep the peace, with officers on standby to deal with any trouble.
Cops removed one demonstrator who mocked the lockdown restrictions in a hazmat suit and gas mask, escorting him from the crowd.
Another was pinned to the ground by officers while Jeremy Corbyn’s brother Piers Corbyn addressed the masses on a megaphone.
Several demonstrators also let off flares for the rally, with coloured smoke billowing from the crowds.
Several demonstrators also let off flares for the rally, with coloured smoke billowing from the crowds[/caption]
Protesters march during an anti-lockdown demonstration in London[/caption]
Protesters began their march in Hyde Park[/caption]
Thousands of anti-lockdown protesters marched to Trafalgar Square[/caption]
Hundreds swarmed the capital[/caption]
Thousands of anti-lockdown protesters marched through central London[/caption]
A protester carries a sign showing Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s face with a mask on it[/caption]
One woman held a sign which read ‘yes sex is great. But have you been f***ed by the Government?’[/caption]
And several people held a banner which said ‘stop destroying our kids’ lives’[/caption]
Cops tussled with one protester as they tried to remove them from the crowd[/caption]
Officers detained a demonstrator in Hyde Park during a protest against the lockdown[/caption]
Onlookers filmed the scenes from their cars[/caption]
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who led the policing operation, said: “This was another challenging day for our officers and I would like to thank them for their professionalism.
“Throughout the day, officers sought first to engage with people who had gathered to explain that their actions were unlawful under the Covid-19 regulations, and encouraged them to go home to help protect themselves and others during this public health crisis.
“Where this approach did not work and officers were met with hostility, police enforced the regulations and made arrests.”
He added: “We once again saw police come under fire from missiles thrown by people in crowds, and several were injured as a result of targeted assaults. It is totally unacceptable and saddening that officers enforcing regulations that are there to protect us all were the victims of violent attacks. I wish them a speedy recovery.
“Many of those on duty in central London today should have been in their local communities dealing with violent crime and other local issues, but they played a role in reducing the risk of Covid-19 spreading by dispersing crowds.”
The demonstration marks the one-year anniversary of the first lockdown, with Brits told to stay at home for the first time on March 23 last year.
It comes as the nation eases itself out of the third shutdown, with measures next set to relax from March 29.
And police yesterday urged people not to protest, warning a “significant policing operation” would be in place to deal with flouters.
A statement from the Met read: “Those gathering will be encouraged to return home, if they do not, they face necessary and proportionate enforcement action.
“This could be a fixed penalty notice, or arrest.”
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, said that London has recently seen high Covid infection rates, warning of the importance to “avoid situations where the virus can easily spread”.
Police clash with protesters on Piccadilly during the ‘Rally for Freedom’[/caption]
One protester puts two fingers up at police as tensions rose[/caption]
Hundreds joined the rally[/caption]
Cops removed a man wearing a mock hazmat suit from the rally[/caption]
This man wore a hoodie which said ‘f*** your mask’[/caption]
This man was taken away by officers[/caption]
Flares were let off in the crowd[/caption]
He added: “People who gather as part of the protest risk the health of Londoners. That is why we have a policing plan in place to disperse crowds and where necessary, take proportionate enforcement action.
“This will not just be organisers of the protests but participants too – by now everyone knows their part to play in stopping the spread of the virus and thousands have sacrificed much over the last 12 months to do so.
“We do not want to be in a position where enforcement is necessary – we would rather our officers be in London’s communities, tackling local issues. That is why I would urge people to reconsider joining a protest and stay at home.”
It comes after a controversial new policing bill sailed through Parliament earlier in the week, handing sweeping new powers to cops and judges.
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MPs voted 359 to 263 to approve the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, despite Labour’s efforts under Sir Keir Starmer to sink it and campaigners’ fears it will limit protest rights.
One of the powers imposes conditions on non-violent protests judged to be too noisy and thereby causing “intimidation or harassment”.
Labour MPs attacked the proposed laws for removing the rights of protesters.
This man was taken away by cops[/caption]
Officers walked through London’s streets as they monitored the scenes[/caption]
Some wore clothes which read ‘flu world order’[/caption]
Jeremy Corbyn’s brother Piers Corbyn held a fist during the ‘rally for freedom’[/caption]
Another man was taken into the back of a police van[/caption]
Piers Corbyn was out in force[/caption]
Hundreds gathered as officers removed troublemakers[/caption]
Demonstrators held placards which suggested authorities had an illusion of power[/caption]
Police were seen speaking to members of the public in London ahead of the protests[/caption]
