Cops scrambled to protect the Cenotaph as protestors shouted “ceasefire now” and climbed a war memorial in London.
The footage which has been shared online shows Metropolitan Police officers surrounding the Royal Artillery Memorial near Hyde Park on Wednesday.
Protestors can be heard shouting “Free Palestine” and “Ceasefire Now” as onlookers filmed the dramatic moment.
On the clip some can be heard shouting “Run, run!” to the cops while another says “I get why they’re running.”
There was a dispersal order in place covering Westminster from 7.50pm yesterday until 2am this morning.
A spokesperson for the force said: “We are on scene at a large pro-Palestinian demonstration taking place opposite the Houses of Parliament this evening. Traffic continues to flow, there are diversions in place.
“The event is now over and people are leaving the area.
“Despite the protest having finished, a group have come together, walked along Whitehall and are heading towards Oxford Street. We remain with them.
“Inspector Whitehead has authorised a S35 Dispersal Order in the borough of the City of Westminster from 7.50pm until 2am.
“This gives officers the powers to disperse anti-social behaviour.
“As of 10.05pm, the group had dispersed. Officers made one arrest for possession of an offensive weapon.”
In another incident footage showed protestors climbing on the Royal Artillery Memorial on Hyde Park Corner.
Police said that there is no “automatic” right to arrest those climbing on a war memorial.
The Met Police said: “Most people would agree that to climb on or otherwise disrespect a war memorial is unacceptable.
“That is why our officers have made every effort to prevent it happening in recent days.
“This evening, a breakaway group of pro-Palestinian protesters were dispersed at Hyde Park Corner.
“A number of them climbed on the Royal Artillery Memorial.
“While officers were on scene quickly, we regret they were not there quickly enough to prevent the protesters accessing the memorial.
“We know some online have asked why the protesters were not arrested.
“There is no law explicitly making it illegal to climb on a memorial so officers cannot automatically arrest.
“But they can intervene and make it clear the behaviour isn’t acceptable.
“The videos shared online show them doing that.”
Conservative MP Johnny Mercer said: “There is only one memorial of fallen soldiers in London.
“This is it. I will not stand idly by whilst individuals think this is the correct way to treat these memorials.”
