The Met Police told the Standard its officers responded to a group of Youth Demand activists blocking Tower Bridge “causing serious disruption” at around 6.30pm on Saturday.
The protest group shared footage of protesters wearing keffiyehs and holding a banner reading “stop arming Israel” and chanting “we demand reparations”.
In the background, green smoke from a flare covered the famous bridge and several activists can be seen waving Palestine flags.
The footage later shows two protesters holding red and green flares as traffic was brought to a standstill on the bridge.
Tens of thousands of protesters took part in a pro-Palestine march in central London on Saturday, October 11
REUTERS
Meanwhile, a counter-protest by Stop The Hate took place at the junction of Aldwych and the Strand, with police putting measures in place to “prevent serious disruption” between the two groups.
The Met Police reported that a “small group” of counter-protesters had breached its conditions by demonstrating at the form-up area of the pro-Palestine march, leading to a “scuffle between several individuals from the two groups”.
Officers had to separate those involved and made a “small number of arrests”, police said.
After the pro-Palestine demonstration dispersed, the Met Police confirmed it had made 14 arrests in total during the day, including seven for breaching conditions under the Public Order Act.
Other arrests were made for offences including supporting a proscribed group and affray, the force added.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said repeated large-scale protests had caused “considerable fear” for the Jewish community.
The Metropolitan Police said it was aware of the plans, but that “at this time, the law remains unchanged”.
Calls for restraint were made following the terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester on October 2 in which two people were killed, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer urging protesters to “respect the grief of British Jews”.
