The Metropolitan Police say Moremore than 425 people were arrested by 9pm during a major protest policing operation across the capital on Saturday due to the %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_0%% protest leading to 425 arrests.
According to the Met, most arrests were for suspected offences under the Terrorism Act related to alleged support for a proscribed organisation. %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_1%% also made 25+ arrests for alleged assaults on police and other public order offences after some protesters punched, kicked and spat at officers and threw objects.
%%UKNIP_ANCHOR_2%% Commissioner Claire Smart, who led the operation, said around 2,500 officers were deployed citywide. The force said a separate england/palestine/”>Palestine Coalition %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_3%% of ~20,000 people passed with few arrests, but alleged that a protest organised by Defend Our Juries saw tactics intended to "overwhelm the justice system," requiring significant resources. Indeed, during the %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_4%%, policing resources were stretched.
The Met said it has "ample custody capacity" and detainees are being processed at temporary prisoner hubs in %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_5%%. While police activity related to the protests continues overnight, the %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_6%% a further update will follow on Sunday.
What we know
- Arrests: 425+ by 21:00, %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_7%%. This tally reflects the %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_8%% on Saturday.
- Alleged offences: Majority for suspected Terrorism Act breaches; 25+ for %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_9%% on police/public order
- Deployment: ~2,500 officers across %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_10%%
- Crowd sizes: Palestine Coalition %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_11%%%%UKNIP_ANCHOR_12%% ~20,000; separate protest drew significant policing response
- Next steps: Processing ongoing; further %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_13%%
Note: Allegations and figures above are as stated by the Metropolitan Police. Charges and legal outcomes are yet to be determined.
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