Patriotic right-wing protesters chant 'you let your country down' at police during Armistice Day march ahead of pro-Palestinian march set to be attended by thousands.
Met Police is preparing for the biggest ever Remembrance security operation. Get all the latest news and updates throughout the day onFights broke out as Tommy Robinson and hundreds of his supporters arrived in Whitehall on Saturday as police officers tried to maintain a ring of steel around the Cenotaph ahead of a huge march in solidarity with Palestinians later today.
Far-right Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and his supporters were heard chanting football-style cheers as they overwhelmed police close to the memorial in the minutes preceding the 11am two-minute silence to remember those who have lost their lives in war. HAPPENING NOW: Police begin to mobilise and protesters push through the police line. pic.twitter.com/N278WHqlHX
READ MORE: London pro-Palestine march route: Interactive map shows today's Armistice Day protest Advertisement As chants echoed around the area police reinforcements raced to contain the mob as they jostled to be allowed to join the large crowds gathered at The Cenotaph. Military veterans appeared displeased and looked on in disgust as hundreds of people taunted police and shouted out 'we want our country back'. Some of the mob climbed on a statue to Field Marshall Montgomery outside the Ministry of Defence building.
Many were carrying Palestinian flags while others clutch placards emblazoned with slogans such as 'free Palestine', 'hands of al Aqsa', 'end Israeli apartheid' and 'end the siege' and 'baby killer Biden stop arming Israel'. Early on Saturday leaflets claiming that terror group Hamas are a 'resistance' movement could be bought by pro-Palestinian protesters in London
Protest organisers from London have planned to take activists to the capital on buses for the 'Million March' It was claimed on Saturday that a coach firm in the north of England has had its entire 250-strong bus fleet booked out this weekend to ferry people down to London to participate in the Gaza protest.
'We fully respect the right of people to protest lawfully but where we believe this could cause serious disruption to the railway services, we must take action.' Mr Jamal said: 'We are on the brink of a major catastrophe . People are marching peacefully calling for an end to this. We live in a really topsy-turvy world where people marching for peace are being defined by our PM and our Home Sec as extremists and hate speakers.'
He added that statements by the Home Secretary which have referred to the marches as 'hate marches' are 'absolutely disgraceful and demonstrate her own unfitness for office.' It also described its fighters as having 'extortionary heroism' in the leaflet which was freely handed out at a Socialist Worker stand.
Outside the Israeli embassy on Saturday officers were constructing a 'ring of steel' using concrete blocks The Rev Daplin said:' I am here to remember two of my friends who did not come back from serving in Northern Ireland. HNH, who reported the messages to the police, also found posts calling Muslims 'vermin'. Others wrote vile threats of violence and warned: 'It's war. For our children and country.'
Met Police deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor, who is in charge of the 'large and robust policing plan', told reporters at a briefing on the eve of Armistice Day: 'There will be times this weekend where you see pockets of confrontation...' In a last-gasp plea for a 'moment of unity', Mr Sunak warned commemorations are 'sacred' and such rallies can take place only because of those who fought 'for the freedom we cherish'.
Asked why the force has doubled the number of officers on the ground compared to the first weekend of protests, DAC Laurence Taylor said: 'This is a really difficult weekend for policing. The unprecedented security around Britain's most hallowed war memorial was put in place yesterday and will remain until the end of remembrance commemorations on Sunday
Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, joins poppy sellers on behalf of the Royal British Legion as the nation rallies around volunteers Demonstrators will be banned from gathering outside the Israeli Embassy, while a dispersal order in place across a vast swathe of central London will allow police to arrest violent protesters breaking off from the main march.
In a statement released on Friday, the Met rallied around volunteers, saying: 'We have been clear no intimidation of those who so generously give up their time for this treasured national cause will be tolerated. Officers know the risk felt by sellers and should be sought out by anyone concerned throughout the weekend.'
Protective barriers around the 'Remembrance Sunday footprint' in Whitehall have been extended far wider than normal. Lindsey German, the group's convenor, said: 'Our local groups in towns and cities across the UK, along with coach companies, are telling us that every one of their coaches have been booked to bring people to London. This is comparable only to two million strong protest against the Iraq War in 2003.'
While march organisers have vowed not to go near the monument, there are fears splinter groups could clash with football hooligans who have vowed to 'defend' it. Sir Mark said organisers of Saturday's march had shown 'complete willingness to stay away from the Cenotaph and Whitehall and have no intention of disrupting the nation's remembrance events'.
When quizzed on whether comments from politicians had raised the risk of disorder, he added: 'This weekend is going to be tense. Narratives play into that. We won't comment on individual narratives.'Police officers detain a protestor during a 'March For Palestine', in London on November 4 One group, named 'Football Lads Against Extremism', claims veterans have reached out and asked for their support 'due to the threat from the far-Left and pro-Palestine supporters to disrupt the Remembrance Day parade'.
Earlier in the week Rishi Sunak took a more measured tone insisting that he would hold Sir Mark 'accountable' for what happened at the protest. Yesterday, the source close to Ms Braverman said: 'The Home Secretary and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police met this afternoon to discuss the policing of demonstrations to be held tomorrow, on Armistice Day.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty observe the Remembrance Crosses during a visit to the Field of Remembrance 'Policing must be free of politics. Operational independence is a key pillar of UK policing and must be respected. Policing does not comment on political manoeuvrings, and we expect to be able to carry out our duties without political interference.'
'I hear the Prime Minister has confidence in her. I don't know how he can.' The ex-mandarin said he 'despaired' about her piece for The Times. The Royal British Legion has said that they are 'keen to get on with collecting' and their merry band of volunteers feel the same, insisting that all stations will now be manned until November 11.
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