Tens of thousands of protesters gather in London as police confirm arrests

Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters have gathered in central London ahead of the anniversary of the October 7 attacks in Israel.

Officers have made 15 arrests so far, the Metropolitan Police said, as part of a 'significant' policing operation in place across the capital in response to the planned protest.

Protestors took to the streets for a march which culminated in speeches at Whitehall condemning the government's actions. A counter-protest took place at the junction of Kingsway and Aldwych and at the junction of the Strand and Trafalgar Square.

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The Met Police said that one person was arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation and there were seven arrests on suspicion of public order offences – three of which were allegedly racially aggravated.

Three people were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, three arrested on suspicion of assault and one person was arrested on suspicion of breaching a Public Order Act condition. Conditions were imposed under the act to prevent disorder after a counter-protest group was deemed to be too close to the main march and well away from the agreed area.

The demonstrators blocked Tottenham Court Road by gathering outside a Barclays branch just after midday, with a sign held near the entrance reading: “Shame on those who looked away from the sadistic genocide of mainly children in Gaza and the West Bank.”

A short while later they blocked Gower Street near the British Museum and police appeared to form a line to prevent the group meeting up with another group of activists in Russell Square.

On Sunday afternoon, a memorial event will be held in Hyde Park, organised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and other groups.