Pro-Palestine protesters have been pictured clashing with police outside a Manchester branch of McDonald’s as Saturday’s nationwide ‘day of action’ threatened to turn ugly.
Photographs from Manchester showed a line of police officers standing outside the fast food restaurant in Oxford Street as a group of men, some wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, held up a Palestine flag and pushed up against the officers.
Elsewhere, a pro-Palestinian demo assembled outside Downing Street amid an ongoing ‘day of action’ by pro-Palestinian activists that has seen police issue dispersal orders following unrest on Whitehall.
British Transport Police officers arrested at least five people at a sit-in at London Waterloo after they refused to leave the station despite an order banning public assemblies being enacted.
The Metropolitan Police shared a CCTV image of protesters gathered on Whitehall opposite the entrance to the prime minister’s official residence in one of more than 100 demos taking place across the country today.
Police stand between protesters and the window of a McDonald’s restaurant in Oxford Street, Manchester
Police in Manchester have clashed with pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside a McDonald’s in the city centre
Police offiers detain a pro-Palestinian protester who took part in a sit-in demonstration at London’s Waterloo Station calling for a ceasefire in Gaza
Police said they arrested five people before the rest of the protesters dispersed
Police officers grapple with those protesting in Waterloo on Saturday evening
Officers force prevent protesters from re-entering Waterloo station
At Waterloo, the British Transport Police confirmed it had arrested five protesters before dispersing the sit-in to outside the station.
‘A large number of police officers remain in attendance to maintain order,’ a statement added.
The Met Police said those dispersed from the station made their way to Westminster Bridge where they ‘sat in the road’, before moving when officers approached to Parliament Square.
The force added the group ‘is a mix of pro-Palestinian protesters and JSO activists’, saying it had arrest one ‘prominent’ Just Stop Oil member.
It comes as protesters held sit-in protests at major UK train stations despite increased policing across railway networks.
The BTP deployed enhanced officer patrols in England, Scotland and Wales on Saturday.
Footage shared on social media showed a small crowd sitting on the floor in Manchester Victoria Station, while the force confirmed another group of around 25 had done the same at Leeds station shortly after 2pm.
A protester is carried out of Waterloo station by several police officers
Police officers detain a pro-Palestinian protester who took part in a sit-in demonstration at London’s Waterloo Station
A Palestine flag is held up against the window of a McDonald’s branch in Manchester
Police officers line up in rows in Waterloo before the removal of protesters
Pro-Palestinian protesters defied a British Transport Police ban on assemblies in London’s train stations to stage sit-ins at London Bridge and Waterloo station (pictured: Waterloo)
Police stand by as pro-Palestinian protesters stage a sit-in at Waterloo station
A man is dragged away at Waterloo station while wearing handcuffs
A Section 35 Dispersal Order has been authorised until 11pm in the Westminster area
Police officers monitor a group of protesters after they left Waterloo station
Thousands of people march along the road in Manchester on Saturday
Palestinian flags waved from a Cathedral balustrade at a protest in central Manchester
Hundreds gathered outside the office in Camden, north London as a fresh wave of protests began across the country in a national day of action
Crowds blocked the road and chanted ‘Keir Starmer’s a wasteman’ and ‘What do we want? A ceasefire. When do we want it? Now’
Several hundred people gather to stage a demonstration in support of Palestinians and demand an immediate cease-fire in an area of London
Others held up signs saying ‘Stop the war on Gaza’ as they massed outside the Labour leader’s office
The packed road was filled with Palestinian flags, with further placards reading: ‘save Gaza’s kids’ and: ‘no justice, no peace’
Other placards accused the Labour leader of enabling genocide – while another included the controversial phrase: ‘from the river to the sea’
Some signs accused Starmer of not upholding Labour values and still more definitively called for a ceasefire
19 shadow ministers defied the leadership to speak in favour of a ceasefire this week in a SNP amendment to the King’s Speech
Labour was left in chaos this week as MPs faced pressure from members and pro-Palestinian activists to back a vote for a ceasefire in Gaza
BTP issued Section 14a orders prohibiting protests on Saturday at many of London’s main rail stations from 10am to 11pm, but shortly after 2.30pm the force posted on X that a group of approximately 200 protesters had arrived at London Bridge station in the English capital.
A police cordon was also put in place around London Bridge, but five minutes later they posted again to say the group had left the area and passengers could access the station as usual.
McDonald’s was targeted by some pro-Palestine protesters on Saturday because its Israeli franchise has been offering free food to soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Other Middle Eastern franchised have distanced themselves from the move, while McDonald’s global parent company has distanced itself from taking any stance on the Israel-Hamas war.
It told the BBC: ‘McDonald’s Corporation is not funding or supporting any governments involved in this conflict, and any actions from our local developmental licensee business partners were made independently without McDonald’s consent or approval.’
However, people have taken extreme measures to express their distaste with the fast food chain, releasing mice painted in the colours of the Palestinian flag into restaurants in the UK.
Outside Downing Street, videos shared on social media purported to show small scuffles between police officers and protesters, as officers rushed to separate arguing activists.
The Met Police said two men in balaclavas were spotted in the area, ‘appearing to watch the group of pro-Palestinian protesters’ before being ‘encouraged to leave’.
At 6.40pm, the force issued a Section 35 Dispersal Order until 11pm across Westminster, meaning that anyone who refuses to leave when asked to do so by an officer can be arrested.
The gatherings came as protesters in north London assembled outside Keir Starmer’s parliamentary office and chanted ‘Keir Starmer’s a wasteman’ and ‘What do we want? A ceasefire. When do we want it? Now’.
Others held up signs saying ‘Stop the war on Gaza’ as they massed outside the Labour leader’s office days after he ordered Labour MPs not to show support for an SNP amendment to the King’s Speech calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The packed road was filled with Palestinian flags, with further placards reading: ‘save Gaza’s kids’ and: ‘no justice, no peace.’
Protesters held signs saying ‘Who the f*** doesn’t vote for a ceasefire?’ and ‘Starmer shame on you’ as they walked through Camden.
John Rees, national officer for the Stop the War Coalition, told crowds: ‘My message to Keir Starmer is this. One, you are a wasteman. Two, get with the programme, demand a ceasefire now.’
The crowds also heard from 33-year-old Palestinian Nida Badawi, who told crowds: ‘I know we’re restless. For the past 40 days, over 40 days, I feel like my heart’s been ripped out of my body.
‘I’m just here to remind you while we’re standing here, it’s not the time to stay quiet. They need to hear our voices.’
Protesters also gathered outside the office of Harrow East Conservative MP Bob Blackman, who voted against a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza earlier this week. Other MPs’ offices were targeted in recent days.
Protesters defied orders by the British Transport Police to stay away from transport hubs and staged protests at both London Bridge and Waterloo stations.
BTP officers have moved in to disperse protesters, handing them leaflets to inform them that they will be arrested if they refuse to leave.
Shortly after 4.30pm – the deadline given to protesters to leave Waterloo – the force said on X, formerly Twitter: ‘Following engagement with protest liaison officers, protestors are refusing to leave Waterloo station as agreed. Therefore we are moving to arrest phase.’
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters have began marching from outside Chalk Farm station in north London as part of the day of national action.
Elsewhere, thousands of protesters marched in Newcastle to call for a ceasefire, while an estimated 18,000 people protested on a rainy day in Glasgow.
Members of Scottish Labour, the SNP and the Scottish Greens were among those to address the crowd on Glasgow Green.
SNP MP Anum Qaisar said: ‘11,000 people have been massacred in Gaza, almost half of whom are children. Over 1,000 people killed in Israel by the atrocious attack by Hamas.
‘These numbers are rising and they will continue to rise daily unless there’s an immediate ceasefire.’
Police officers are pictured at Waterloo as they make a handful of arrests
Several dozen people are pictured sitting in Waterloo station before police officers moved in
Police officers attempt to explain to Waterloo protesters that the gathering is illegal
Dozens of officers prepared to move in on protesters at Waterloo on Saturday
Police officers line up on the concourse after pro-Palestinian protesters took part in a sit-in demonstration at London’s Waterloo
Protesters in Glasgow’s Argyle Street as they call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Organisers say 18,000 people attended
Protesters in Glasgow marching for a ceasefire in Gaza
Protesters march across the Gateshead Millenium Bridge in Newcastle during a protest in the northern city on Saturday
The Newcastle action took in the length of the city centre waterfront, passing beneath the Tyne Bridge
Police patrol around the Cenotaph on Whitehall on Saturday ahead of anticipated pro-Palestine protests across the country
Footage of the incident sparked anger at the police response – with officers simply standing by and watching as one of them politely asked the men to come down
Protesters have gathered in Harrow outside the office of Harrow East MP Bob Blackman, who voted against a parliamentary motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza
Thousands protest outside of Parliament to demand that there is a vote for a ceasefire. Pictured at Parliament Square on November 15, 2023
Dolls symbolising children that died during the conflict as healthcare workers and agencies in the UK held a vigil outside Downing Street on Friday
But amid scenes earlier this week of police simply standing by as pro-Palestinian activists climbed the Royal Artillery Memorial in Hyde Park, Met Commander Karen Findlay says officers have been told to take stronger action.
As well as making ‘expectations clear’ to police on the ground to take decisive action, she has told protesters who climb memorials that they could be liable for criminal damage charges.
Footage of the Hyde Park incident on Wednesday sparked anger amid the police response – with officers simply standing by and watching as one of them politely asked a man to come down, making no moves to arrest him.
Commander Findlay said: ‘We have made our expectations clear to officers who will be on duty this weekend.
‘At a minimum they are to intervene decisively when they see behaviour which is obviously disrespectful, using their skills in dealing with the public as they do every day.
‘They will be looking to take positive action, including arrests, as soon as disrespectful behaviour becomes disorderly behaviour of the sort covered by a number of public order offences.
‘They will also intervene where necessary to prevent a breach of the peace.
‘Protesters intent on climbing over memorials and other monuments should also keep in mind that they weren’t designed for this purpose, making them prone to damage which will likely constitute a criminal offence.
‘There is clear legislation in place to deal with damage of any sort, even if it is minimal or was caused recklessly and not intentionally.’
However, the Met commander admitted that policing people who climb war memorials would be a ‘challenge’ for officers – because there is no explicit law that makes the action unlawful.
She has called on pro-Palestinian marchers to show respect and to adhere to the law, warning that ‘hate crime will not be tolerated’. Met resources will be heavily deployed in areas with large Jewish and Muslim communities.
Commander Findlay added: ‘Regrettably, while the majority of protesters coming out in recent weeks have been peaceful, we have continued to see people taking part in offensive chanting or intentionally carrying placards that cross the line from political statements into racially or religiously aggravated offences.
‘By all means come out and protest to make your voice heard as is your right, but if your aim is to offend, to incite hatred, or to cause fear and intimidation then you should stay away.’
Rather than a huge march in London , as has been seen in recent weeks, dozens of events are due to take place in different parts of the UK today (picture of a protest on Wednesday)
British Transport Police have banned protests on Saturday at many of London’s main rail stations
A vigil was held at Downing Street tonight to mourn the civilians and healthcare workers killed in Israel’s bombing of Gaza
Dolls were laid in front of the Prime Minister’s residence to highlight the number of children and babies killed in the bloody war
Rather than a huge march in London, as has been seen in recent weeks with thousands of protesters converging on the capital, the Day of Action for Palestine has seen more than 100 events take place in different parts of the UK on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the British Transport Police (BTP) has banned protests on Saturday at many of London’s main rail stations, anticipating that demonstrations at the country’s busiest transport hubs could cause severe disruption.
Ahead of the protests, a vigil was held at Downing Street on Friday to mourn the civilians and healthcare workers killed in Israel’s relentless bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip over recent weeks.
Israel began strikes on the enclave after the October 7 atrocities by Palestinian terror group Hamas, which saw 1,200 killed.
The Palestinian death toll has surpassed 12,000, including 5,000 children, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Friday.
Dolls were laid in front of the Prime Minister’s residence to highlight the number of children and babies killed in the bloody war, while protesters also held aloft placards with the names of medics who have lost their lives while trying to save others.
Furious protesters have been calling for a ceasefire for weeks, and now protests will grip the country as part of a coordinated day of action which will involve trade unionists.
Labour was left in chaos this week as MPs faced pressure from members and pro-Palestinian activists to back a vote for a ceasefire in Gaza, especially after 19 shadow ministers defied the leadership to speak in favour of a ceasefire.
In the end, ten frontbenchers and 46 other Labour MPs sided with the SNP amendment to the King’s Speech which demanded an ‘immediate ceasefire’ in the besieged territory.
Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said the rallies were organised to show that ‘ordinary people’ support a ceasefire.
‘This Saturday, ordinary people across the UK will come out again to show the vast majority of them support a ceasefire,’ he said.
‘They will show their solidarity with Palestinians who are suffering unimaginable harm.’
A spokeswoman for organisers Stop The War Coalition said on Friday: ‘Tomorrow is the day of action that we’ve called for.’
‘Groups around the country are organising local rallies and marches to basically build for the national demonstration that has been called for next Saturday,’ she said.
The spokeswoman added that most of the rallies will have speakers, and some will still march.
Hundreds of children joined a protest march through Bethnal Green yesterday
Youngsters and adults carrying Palestinian flags and placards calling for Israel to ‘stop the war in Gaza ‘ clogged up the streets in Bethnal Green
The gathering in Barking comes amid warnings for children to stay in school
‘I think most of them have speakers from various organisations that are involved in the main marches, and then trade unionists,’ she said.
Schoolchildren take to the streets in co-ordinated protest strike across UK for Palestinians
This week, Labour saw a string of frontbench resignations after ten MPs defied Sir Keir Starmer and voted for an end to fighting.
MPs who did not rebel against the party leader have seen demonstrations in their constituencies, with marchers expected in Emily Thornberry’s seat of Highbury and Islington today.
Last Saturday also saw shocking scenes of violence as far-right football hooligans claiming to be ‘protecting the Cenotaph’ clashed with police.
Today, the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) voiced fears that ‘genocidal hate chanting and antisemitic rhetoric’ would be heard on Britain’s streets.
The Met said 300,000 people joined a pro-Palestinian march through London on Armistice Day, which saw some displaying antisemitic slogans and sickening support for Hamas.
Meanwhile, the CAA filmed several protesters comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, with one branding Benjamin Netanyahu ‘worse than Hitler’.
The Metropolitan Police said that a ‘significant’ policing operation is planned for the capital this weekend as it plans to crackdown on any hateful behaviour.
Commander Karen Findlay, who is leading the Met’s operation in London, said: ‘Whilst there is no single large central protest event on Saturday, our policing priorities remain the same across the local events that are due to take place.
‘We are here to ensure that people can exercise their right to protest but to make sure that is done lawfully, and that unreasonable disruption to the lives of other Londoners is kept to a minimum.
‘Our officers will intervene swiftly where they see offences taking place. In particular, I want to reiterate that there is no place for hate in London. Hate crime will not be tolerated.
Police are ‘actively seeking’ two men pictured wearing Hamas-style headbands at last Saturday’s march in London
A demonstrator last Saturday with a sign showing a Star of David intertwined with a Nazi swastika (left) and another depicting Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman as ‘coconuts’
‘Regrettably, while the majority of protesters coming out in recent weeks have been peaceful, we have continued to see people taking part in offensive chanting or intentionally carrying placards that cross the line from political statements into racially or religiously aggravated offences.’
Girls’ school in Wimbledon launches banned pro-Palestine protest that left the parents of Jewish pupils claiming their children felt ‘isolated and threatened’
The British Transport Police have issued Section 14a orders prohibiting protests on Saturday at many of London’s main rail stations.
The orders will be in place between 10am and 11pm at Waterloo, Charing Cross, King’s Cross, London Bridge, Euston, Liverpool Street, Marylebone, Paddington, Victoria and St Pancras.
Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan said: ‘We have been made aware of several planned demonstrations due to take place on Saturday November 18 across railway stations in London.
‘We fully respect the rights of people to protest lawfully but where we believe this could cause serious disruption to the railway services, we must act.’
On Friday, schoolchildren walked out of their classes as part of a coordinated ‘school strike for Palestine’.
In Bristol, youngsters handed in a petition calling for a ceasefire, while similar events took place in other cities across the UK.
It came after hundreds of pupils at a Wimbledon girls’ school took part in a banned march in support of Palestine which left Jewish students feeling ‘isolated and threatened’ on Wednesday.
Footage posted on TikTok shows how streams of uniformed girls aged 11-16 defied a ban on any political event within the school campus this week – leaving some girls, including some of Jewish backgrounds, feeling unsafe.
And on Thursday, a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters surrounded the Labour constituency office of MP Rushanara Ali after she abstained from Wednesday’s Gaza ceasefire vote in Parliament, following an earlier protest their by schoolchildren in the day.
The Department of Education has responded by stressing that children should be in school and not ‘missing out on their education’.