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Far right activists have launched missiles in violent clashes with police in London after two-minutes’ silence passed undisturbed on Armistice Day.
A man was arrested on suspicion of possession of knife the after riot police confronted angry counter protesters in Chinatown.
Extra units were deployed to the area after groups determined to defend the Cenotaph left Whitehall. Footage show masked men, some wearing a St George’s flag, clashing with officers in riot gear.
A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “A group of counter protestors who left Whitehall and moved into Chinatown confronted and threw missiles at officers who tried to engage with them.
“Additional officers have been deployed to the area to identify, locate and deal with those involved. Our priority is keeping the public safe. We will not tolerate disorder in central London today.”
Police clash with rival supporters as protesters walk past the Cenotaph on Whitehall
(PA)
Elsewhere, hundreds of football hooligans chanting “West Ham til I die” clashed with police by the Houses of Parliament in Westminster shortly after midday.
Around 50 Met officers wearing riot helmets, protective gloves and yellow jackets held riot batons as they formed two lines of defence to prevent the crowd from heading south across Westminster Bridge.
The crowd of men surged forward on two occasions, trying to break through the police, but were held back. As they pushed together, they threw beer cans and vapes, while waving red smoke flares. Cries of “I’m English til I die” could be heard as some of the crowd hurled abuse at police saying “You’re scum, you’re letting our country down.”
Police has said it is reviewing footage of the clash to identify and arrest those involved the disorder.
It comes after up to 2,000 right-wing activists clashed with officers on Whitehall before the two-minutes’ silence passed undisturbed.
Separate footage showed crowds barging past police and climbing on bollards on Saturday morning as counter protesters were penned in near Horse Guards Parade.
Crowds of men were chanting and climbing on bollards with pockets of disorder breaking out. However silence fell at 11am as two-minutes silence was observed.
English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson as among the crowds gathered on Whitehall after he issued a rallying cry to his supporters to turn out to “defend” the Cenotaph. He was later seen leaving the Chinatown area in a taxi, according to reports on social media.
Counter protesters gathered on Whitehall ahead of two-minutes’ silence on Armistice Day
(PA)
The Metropolitan Police used its powers to ban pro-Palestinian marchers from the ‘Remembrance footprint’ in Whitehall, but insisted counter protestors including far right groups would be allowed inside the exclusion zone because they would “not cause serious disorder by themselves”.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, who is in charge of the police operation, said on Friday: “Counter protest will be allowed in Whitehall, because the sole purpose their intention is to protect the sanctity of the Cenotaph and Remembrance.
“So I don’t anticipate there will be any disorder from that group. The disorder will come from a pro-Palestinian group going in that are whilst they are there, if they are there.”
He added: “I do believe if the groups come together there will be serious disorder. That’s why I’ve put conditions in place, to prevent that from happening.”
Police officers scuffle with counter protesters in London’s Chinatown
(PA)
Police confirmed on Saturday they had faced “aggression” from counter protesters who have gathered in “significant numbers”, but said the two-minute silence was observed respectfully.
Officers will continue to track the activists and warned they will use all the powers at their disposal to stop anyone intent on disrupting the pro-Palestine march, which departed from Hyde Park Corner at midday. Police said there have been no incidents related to this protest so far.
A Met Police spokesman said: “While the two minutes’ silence was marked respectfully and without incident on Whitehall, officers have faced aggression from counter protestors who are in the area in significant numbers.
“The counter protestors are not one cohesive group. There are different groups moving away from Whitehall towards other parts of central London.
“Officers are keeping track of them as they do. If their intention is to confront the main protest departing later today from Park Lane, we will use all the powers and tactics available to us to prevent that from happening.”
Tommy Robinson with counter protesters in London’s Chinatown ahead of a pro-Palestinian protest
(PA)
The worrying scene come after anti-fascist campaign groups warned that whipped up far-right supporters and football hooligans could pose a “real danger” over Remembrance weekend.
“Even in small numbers they could cause a big problem. They will be meeting in pubs and will be drinking beforehand. There is a real danger from these groups tomorrow,” a spokesman for Hope Not Hate told The Independent on Friday.
“These groups are difficult to control and could head towards the march, even though they are saying they are going to protect the Cenotaph.”
Alan Jones, of anti-fascist group Red Flare, warned that London could see a “significant mobilisation”.
“I think the risk, particularly with the football hooligan milieu is that you are talking about that are quite familiar with pretty serious violence. They basically just want to have a fight and this provides the perfect pretext for that,” he added.
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