A major police operation in Parliament Square has resulted in the arrest of at least 365 people this afternoon, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed.
The arrests were made for supporting a proscribed organisation, with officers also making seven arrests for other offences, including five for assaults on officers. None of the officers were seriously injured.
The large-scale policing operation began earlier in the day when crowds gathered in Parliament Square, with many holding placards in support of Palestine Action, which is currently a proscribed organisation under UK law.
At 3pm, the Met confirmed 150 arrests, followed by 200 arrests an hour later. By 6pm, the total had risen sharply to 365. Police say they are “steadily working through the crowd” to make further arrests where necessary.
While many of those remaining in the square by the late afternoon were journalists and onlookers, the Met stressed that officers were continuing to target individuals engaged in supporting the banned group.
The force has also rejected claims made by protest organisers, saying some public statements contain misinformation about the nature of the arrests and police powers being used.
Parliament Square remains busy, though tensions have eased slightly as numbers begin to thin out.
