At least ten members of the pro-Palestine group Youth Demand have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police just hours before the King’s Speech.
Scotland Yard announced the arrests in a statement, emphasizing the significant policing presence in central London in anticipation of the State Opening of Parliament.
“Last week, Youth Demand said they planned to disrupt the event. An hour ago, officers arrested 10 of them in Westminster on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance,” the statement read.
The police also reported that an additional 20 to 25 protesters had gathered in Victoria Embankment Gardens, where further arrests were being made.
Youth Demand faced heavy criticism for a previous protest outside the home of Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer. The group had boasted in an email sent on Saturday evening about their plans to cause chaos during the State Opening of Parliament.
In the email, Youth Demand stated: “Youth Demand will be disrupting the State Opening of Parliament. We disrupt because it is our duty to fight back in every way we non-violently can and because we refuse to despair, but instead are full of hope that another way is possible.”
