Palestine protesters take over London (Image: Getty)
Protesters have been spotted holding placards showing Rishi Sunak and Benjamin Netanyahu with Hitler moustaches at a pro-Palestinian rally in central London this afternoon.
People marching through the streets were seen bearing banners calling for ‘Muslim Armies’ to attack Israel and ‘resuce the people of Gaza’.
While some report up to 100,000 have attended the event, the Met Police said around 70,000 pro-Palestine demonstrators were thronged in the capital’s streets today and a smaller protest was held outside the Egyptian Embassy calling for military action against Israel.
In a video shared on X by the group Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, an Islamist group that calls itself ‘The Liberation Party’, a large crowd could be seen holding placards with the words ‘zionist murderers’.
One animated speaker passionately shouted to the crowd “free, free Palestine” with the crowd repeating his words. He then screams into the microphone and his supporters shout “Allahu Akbar”, meaning ‘God is greater’.
Thousands of protesters have been gathering at Marble Arch in central London as part of a pro-Palestine march.
Attendees held signs that read “Freedom for Palestine” and “Stop Bombing Gaza” and chants included “Judaism yes, Zionism no, the state of Israel must go”, and “5, 6, 7, 8, Israel is a terrorist state”.
In a statement on X the Metropolitan Police said about the wider demonstration in London: “The protest is well on its way. The front of the demonstration is heading along Whitehall. The back of the procession is still near Marble Arch.”
The force said a helicopter was up overseeing the march and it estimated the turnout was around 100,000 so far.
Follow this LIVE blog for more updates on the protest…
1 hour ago18:27 Max Parry
Met Police says ‘no crime committed’ after calls for ‘jihad’ from small group of protestersProtesters at a Hizb ut-Tahrir protest in central London repeatedly called for “jihad” to “liberate people from the concentration camps of Palestine”.
In response to the shocking video, the Metropolitan Police issued a statement on X, previously Twitter, saying: “The word jihad has a number of meanings but we know the public will most commonly associate it with terrorism.
“We have specialist counter terrorism officers here in the operations room who have particular knowledge in this area. They have assessed this video, filmed at the Hizb ut-Tahrir protest in central London today, and have not identified any offences arising from the specific clip.
“However, recognising the way language like this will be interpreted by the public and the divisive impact it will have, officers have identified the man involved and will be speaking to him shorty to discourage any repeat of similar chanting.”
2 hours ago17:30 Max Parry
Protester from Hizb ut-Tahrir calls for ‘jihad’ in central LondonAn unnamed protester called for “jihad” from “the armies of the Muslim countries” to defeat Israel.
The man, speaking at an event for Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir in central London, said: “The only solution is jihad by the armies of the Muslim countries.”
Pointing to the crowd, he added: “Not by you and me. Who are we? What training do I have?
“There are people with arms in Egypt, in Pakistan, in Saudi Arabia, in Jordan – across the Muslim world.
“And right now they are boiling like we are boiling.”
Pro-Hamas/Palestine supporters call for u201cjihad by the armies of the Muslim countriesu201d on the streets of London.
Theyu2019re not even hiding it anymore. pic.twitter.com/7lORIswAih
u2014 Turning Point UK ud83cuddecud83cudde7 (@TPointUK) October 21, 2023 2 hours ago17:02 Max Parry
Rishi Sunak and Benjamin Netanyahu given Hitler moustaches on protest placardA placard showing UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Jewish Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu with Hitler moustaches has been seen the during the pro-Palestine protest in London.
Under the images of both men read the words ‘Crime Minister’.
Sunak and Netanyahu both given Hitler moustaches by protesters (Image: X/Twitter)
3 hours ago16:36 Max Parry
Pro-Palestine protesters surround Nelson’s ColumnPro-Palestine activists surrounded Nelson’s Column in central London.
The activists could be heard chanting and seen waving Palestinian flags.
4 hours ago15:35 Max Parry
Video shows tube driver showing support for PalestineA London tube driver rallied crowds packed into his train’s carriages with chants of “free, free palestine” as it sped along the Central Line today.
Some X users speculated whether Jewish and Israeli occupants of the train would have felt “safe” following the chants from the train driver.
central line tube driver carrying hundreds of people to the free palestine march in london leads the tube in a chant
says he wanted to be there but couldnu2019t get the day off pic.twitter.com/SOqzPtzfRp
u2014 ruby lott-lavigna (@RubyJLL) October 21, 2023 4 hours ago15:17 Max Parry
Protesters call for ‘Muslim armies’ to ‘rescue’ PalestineMembers of Hizb ut Tarir, which is a “revolutionary Islamist party” according to the Henry Jackson Society, have been caught on camera calling on “Muslim armies” to liberate Palestine outside the Egyptian embassy.
One demonstrator, seen speaking into a microphone was leading fellow demonstrators in a call and response chant.
The chant went: “Muslim armies, isn’t it time? Free, free Palestine.”
After the chant, the lead protester led the crowd in calls of “Takbir” and “Allahu Akbar”.
5 hours ago14:46 Richard Ashmore
Video shows protesters marching through central LondonDaily Express reporter Christopher Sharp filmed the huge numbers of some 100,000 said to be marching through London today.
Busy steets usually packed with traffic were filled with people carrying banners and Palestine flags.
Pro-Palestine protesters march in central London 5 hours ago14:36 Richard Ashmore
Met warns against showing support for Hamas that could lead to arrestThe police have issued a statement saying: “It is important to remember that while supporting the Palestinian cause or criticising Israel is not, in itself, unlawful, any support for a proscribed organisation such as Hamas or Hezbollah is unlawful. Anyone wearing, carrying or otherwise displaying symbols that are supportive of a proscribed organisation can be arrested.
“The same is true for chanting or slogans.”
5 hours ago14:33 Richard Ashmore
Foreign Secretary calls for ‘discipline’ from Israel in response to Hamas terror attackAs protesters marched in London the Government has called for Israel to alleviate the suffering of ordinary Palestinians in Gaza and act with “discipline” in its military response to the Hamas attacks.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, speaking at an international peace summit in Cairo, warned that the Israel-Hamas dispute must not trigger wider instability in the region.
His comments came as a convoy of aid was allowed into besieged Gaza through the border with Egypt.
Mr Cleverly said the opening of the Rafah crossing could not be a one-off event and he would continue to push for humanitarian access to Gaza.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, right, and James Cleverly (Image: AP )
5 hours ago14:27 Richard Ashmore
Pictures from the protestPictures of an estimated 100,000 protesters marching on the streets of London have started to emerge.
Many of the placards had slogans supporting a ‘free Palestine’ but others also accused Western leaders of ‘war crimes’.
A demonstrator in London today (Image: Getty )
Marchers packed the streets of London today (Image: Getty )
5 hours ago14:23 Richard Ashmore
Met Police says demonstration numbers reach ‘100,000’The Met Police has said demonstrator numbers in London today for the pro-Palestine rally have reached 100,000.
Aerial images from the force National Police Air Service London show huge crowds of people packing the area around Whitehall.
Our colleagues at @NPASLondon really are invaluable on days like today giving us a real time overview of events as they take place on a #PublicOrder day! ud83dude81
As of 1400 hours we now estimate the numbers in the demonstration to be up to 100,000; the front remains on Whitehall. ud83dudc40 pic.twitter.com/waFUXWBXTo
u2014 Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 21, 2023 5 hours ago14:13 Max Parry
London Tube worker recorded encouraging Palestine chantsA Tube driver has been recorded encouraging a crowd of chanting pro-Palestine passengers as he transported them to a massive rally in London today.
Addressing the passengers over the speaker system the driver says “free free” before those inside one carriage being filmed respond shouting “Palestine”.
Tube passengers join the driver in Palestine chants today (Image: @RubyJLL)
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