Pro-Palestine demonstrators clash with police in London and Kent protests in ... trends now
Officers clashed with pro-Palestine demonstrators across the country today as protesters took part in 'economic blockades' amid fears that an unprecedented 350-missile attack on Israel by Iran could escalate the war in the Middle East.
Hundreds of people gathered in London and Kent this morning to chant and unfurl banners as police struggled to keep crowds under control.
People had been encouraged by pro-Palestinian groups to take part in an 'economic blockade' by missing work or school and only making purchases from companies sympathetic to their cause.
In London, chaotic footage shows dozens of officers appearing to jostle with protesters on Curzon Street, Mayfair, in an attempt to keep them out of the road with umbrellas getting crushed in the crowds and some people having to step over bikes parked on the pavement.
When police eventually formed a cordon in the area, demonstrators held up banners and shouted through megaphones as the crowds grew.
Met Police on Curzon Street in Mayfair, London, this morning attempting to keep a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters under control
Officers could also be seen trying to hold back a crowd charging towards them nearby
Protesters held up a sign reading, 'evict the arms companies' while crowds chanted, 'the people united will never be defeated'
Police officers pictured pushing a group away from an office block in Mayfair, London
Some officers filmed the commotion in London while others formed a cordon
The group had gathered in front of offices on the street in one of the capital's most expensive areas and held up a huge banner with the words, 'stop arming Israel'.
Officers, some holding cameras to film the commotion, then rushed behind the crowd holding the sign and pushed demonstrators, many of whom chanted 'free Palestine', away from the office block.
Nearby, a large group of Met Police officers struggled to stop a group of charging protesters, most wearing black, as they rushed down the street.
A large group of people held up a banner reading, 'evict the arms companies' while crowds chanted, 'the people united will never be defeated'.
Some demonstrators banged drums to stir up the rally further as people started jumping in the air while police watched on.
A number of protesters waved Palestine flags and a sign reading, 'Israeli weapons kill in Sudan' could be seen.
Similar demonstrations also took place in Kent today as protesters from Palestine Action descended on the Discovery Park, in Sandwich, in a blockade 'making access to the business estate impossible'.
The site, which has been dubbed one of the UK's top science parks for pharmaceutical firms, is also home to Instro Precision Ltd, a subsidiary of Israeli drone manufacturer Elbit systems.
Footage shared on X, formerly Twitter, shows demonstrators setting off green smoke flares, lying down in sleeping bags in the middle of the car park, with others holding up Palestinian flags while chanting: 'Shut down Elbit now'.
Similar demonstrations also took place in Kent today as protesters from Palestine Action descended on the Discovery Park, in Sandwich, in a blockade 'making access to the business estate impossible'
Demonstrators in Kent could be seen lying in the middle of the car park
Footage shared on X, formerly Twitter, shows demonstrators setting off green smoke flares, with others holding up Palestinian flags while chanting: 'Shut down Elbit now'
A woman was filmed being placed under arrests for allegedly attempting to join the blockade
A spokesperson from Kent Police said: 'Kent Police officers are currently at the scene of a protest at Discovery Park near Sandwich'
Protesters held up a huge banner with the words, 'stop arming Israel' in front of the office block
Signs reading, 'Israeli weapons kill in Sudan' could also be seen throughout the demonstration
The scenes come as the world holds its breath over fears of World War III breaking out
chaotic footage shows dozens of officers appearing to jostle with protesters oin an attempt to keep them out of the road with umbrellas getting crushed in the crowds and some people having to step over bikes parked on the pavement
Nearby, a large group of Met Police officers struggled to stop a group of charging protesters, most wearing black, as they rushed down the street
Some protesters can be seen swaddled in large Palestine flags as they lie on the tarmac of the car park, surrounded by officers.
A woman was filmed being placed under arrests for allegedly attempting to join the blockade. Footage shows the woman, faced down as three officers place her in cuffs.
This is not the first time that Discovery Park has been targeted by Palestine Action, with eight protesters from the group taking part in a blockade just three weeks ago by attaching themselves to each other through lock ons - a technique used by demonstrators to make it harder for police officers to make arrests.
As the landlord for the weapons factor, the business estate was attended by 150 protesters from unions in October, including Unite, UNISON, the NEU, UCU, the BMA and BFAWU, demonstrating at the base over the war in Israel.
Palestine Action posted footage of the protest on social media, calling for others to join them, and wrote: 'Discovery Park is the base of Elbit’s Instro Precision weapons factory, who make sniper rifle sights for the Israeli army to commit genocide.
'As part of the economic blockade for Palestine, we’ve shut them down!'
A spokesperson from Kent Police said: 'Kent Police officers are currently at the scene of a protest at Discovery Park near Sandwich.'
It has not been confirmed by the force if any arrests were made.
