Police have faced off with a “breakaway” group of demonstrators setting off flares in central London as tens of thousands took part in the latest pro-Palestine rally seen in the capital in recent weeks.
Meanwhile hundreds gathered outside the Egyptian embassy in central London this afternoon for a rally organised by a radical group banned in many countries – with one speaker calling for “Muslim armies to unite” to “free Palestine”.
Posting on X, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “A breakaway group began to march up Whitehall. They were setting off flares which on previous weekends have been used against officers.
“They’ve been detained to be searched under Section 60 of the Public Order Act.
“In addition, conditions under Section 12 of the Public Order Act have now been imposed preventing any further march, that we know will cause disruption.”
A clip showed large numbers of police vehicles in the West End, and officers moving into position at either end of Whitehall.
It subsequently posted: “Thanks to the hard work of our Public Order officers, the group that were given new conditions have dispersed quickly.
“There are no longer any groups on Whitehall or Trafalgar Square.”
In response, members of the public voiced their concerns about the ongoing situation, with one saying: “Hate marches every weekend. London a no go area.”
Separately, in a clip shared on social media, one man standing at a microphone outside the embassy, in Belgravia, leads others in a chant of “Muslim armies isn’t it time? Free, free Palestine.”
Also commenting on X, Richard Tice, leader of Reform UK: “Why do Tories still allow this radical extremist group to spread its hate & calls for Sharia Law & armed insurrection in UK?
“This group is banned in many nations.”
Hizb-ut-Tahrir is an Islamic fundamentalist organisation which calls for the re-establishment of an Islamic Caliphate to unite the Muslim community.
It is currently banned in Bangladesh, China, Germany, Russia, Turkey, Indonesia and all Arab countries apart from Lebanon, Yemen and the UAE.
