Organisers estimate ‘more than 800,000’ pro-Palestine protesters are marching in London
Organisers of the pro-Palestine march in London have said the latest estimate was that “more than 800,000” people have taken to the streets, according to the PA news agency.
A woman using a speaker system from the stage at the end of the march in Nine Elms said: “There are more than 800,000 of us here today and that number may be as high as one million. Making this the second largest march in British history.”
The Met police said earlier that they estimated 300,000 people were marching.
Key events
People set off fireworks during the protest when it got dark.
British Transport Police has said it has made no arrests at Waterloo Station:
As we moved to our arrest phase in Waterloo Station, protesters began to disperse. No arrests were made.
The station is clear now, and passengers are able to use the station as normal.”
British Transport Police say that some pro-Palestinian protesters have staged a sit-in at Waterloo Station.
The British Transport Police (BTP) said officers were urging people to disperse after an order was put in place prohibiting trespassory assembly at a number of London train stations.
BTP said in a post on X: “Following engagement with protest liaison officers, protesters are refusing to leave Waterloo Station as agreed.
“Therefore we are moving to arrest phase.”
Protesters earlier staged a brief sit-in at Victoria Station.
Speeches have ended and organisers have asked the crowd to disperse
The speeches have ended in Nine Elms and organisers have asked the crowds to peacefully disperse.
Protesters were urged to not leave alone for safety reasons.
Further fireworks were set off as people started to disperse, PA reports.
A statue commemorating the casualties of the Machine Gun Corps in the first world war has been wrapped in a Palestinian flag on Armistice Day.
A Press Association reporter has been speaking to the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who is on the march in Vauxhall.
He urged the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, to back calls for a ceasefire and described the march as having a “a huge turnout”.
It’s one of the biggest demonstrations we’ve seen in this country and it’s for a simple message that we need a ceasefire now.
In every other conflict there’s been eventually a ceasefire – we need it immediately because the scale of loss of life, particularly of innocent civilians and children is unacceptable.
Now that Macron has come out for a ceasefire we’re hoping the UK government now will swing behind that. We’re certainly hoping Keir Starmer will.”
Organisers estimate ‘more than 800,000’ pro-Palestine protesters are marching in London
Organisers of the pro-Palestine march in London have said the latest estimate was that “more than 800,000” people have taken to the streets, according to the PA news agency.
A woman using a speaker system from the stage at the end of the march in Nine Elms said: “There are more than 800,000 of us here today and that number may be as high as one million. Making this the second largest march in British history.”
The Met police said earlier that they estimated 300,000 people were marching.
Scotland’s former justice secretary was booed by pro-Palestine activists at the rally in Glasgow after saying Israel has a right to “defend itself against terrorism”, according to the PA news agency.
Keith Brown, who served under Nicola Sturgeon, spoke at the event in front of a large crowd at the city’s Buchanan Street steps.
Brown said he was speaking in a personal capacity, as opposed to as the SNP’s deputy leader and a former minister:
We need to be clear, collective punishment is a war crime, and it’s wrong that the Palestinian people are currently being collectively punished for the actions of a terrorist group.
The only way that we’re going to end the perpetual cycle of violence in Israel and Palestine is by addressing the root cause.
That’s why we stand for a two-state solution, which recognises the sovereignty, the independence, the territorial integrity and the right to self determination of both Palestine and Israel.”
Following a good initial reception from the hundreds-strong crowd, boos began to ring out after the former minister said: “As I say, Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorism.”
Despite the response, Brown continued:
But that response must be proportionate.
The actions of the Israeli government in recent weeks have been anything but.”
Brown continued his speech against a backdrop of boos which made his remarks difficult to hear.
The crowd was also addressed by eight-year-old Jeewan Wadi, who was born in Gaza in 2014. Through tears, and being held up by her father, Jeewan recounted how, while her mother was pregnant with her, she was forced to hide from bombs.
Listen everybody, I only care about the children, babies, women and men that are getting bombed in their own homes,” she said.
Ending her remarks, Jeewan led the crowd in a chant of “ceasefire now”.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have also been marching in Glasgow and calling for a ceasefire to the conflict in the Middle East.
Protesters in London have been twice asked to not set off fireworks by an organiser of the event, PA reports.
“Please stop throwing fireworks,” the pro-Palestinian crowd congregating at the end of the march in Nine Elms was told after one went off.
A second was set off soon after, and a man then said: “We just made the announcement about fireworks, it’s genuinely about safety, please consider the people around you.”
Police say “several hundred” counterprotesters came to the march in London
Matt Twist, assistant commissioner at the Met, has given an update on today’s events on social media.
He said that “several hundred” counterprotesters arrived in groups in central London just after 9am and seemed “intent on confrontation and intent on violence”, but there were “no issues” with the pro-Palestine march – the “biggest march” seen since the Israel-Gaza conflict began, involving “tens of thousands” of people.
He added:
We’ve had arrests for possession of a knife, possession of a baton, possession of Class A drugs and assault on an emergency worker.
There are a number of groups within this counter-protest who have split off and seem intent on seeking confrontation with the main Palestinian march and the policing operation is being effective in preventing that happening.
The main Palestinian march formed up as intended at 12.00 and moved off at 12.45. It’s moving along the prescribed route and there are tens of thousands of people. This is the biggest march we’ve seen in this phase. At the moment, there are no issues with it.
It’s being closely monitored by police and we also have police looking out for any troublemakers who might be intent on causing disruption or seeking a confrontation with people on that main march.”
🗣️Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist update on today’s events.
‘It’s being closely monitored by police. And we also have police looking out for any troublemakers that might be intent on causing disruption’ pic.twitter.com/irXbxVW0g4
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 11, 2023
Police say they are looking for two individuals who have appeared in a photograph that has been posted on social media.
Officers are actively looking for these individuals and will take proactive action when they are identified.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 11, 2023
Rajeev Syal
The Met is seeking more than a dozen individuals who appear to have carried antisemitic signs or led antisemitic chants during the pro-Palestine march.
300,000 have taken place in march, say police
About 300,000 people attended the pro-Palestine march today, the Met have confirmed.
The BBC reports that at the moment, the march is extending from the Hilton hotel on Park Lane to the US embassy in Nine Elms – a distance of roughly 2.5 miles (4km).
The Metropolitan police have said officers in Whitehall today have “faced unacceptable violence, including people throwing missiles and a metal barrier”.
In a statement posted on social media site X, the force said:
There is a remembrance event under way at the Cenotaph.
Officers have prevented those not involved in getting on to Whitehall so it can take place without disruption, as we committed.
They have faced unacceptable violence, including people throwing missiles and a metal barrier.
Anyone genuinely wishing to observe the event could do so from behind barriers on the pavement which is open along one entire side of Whitehall.
Officers’ efforts are on keeping the road itself clear around the Cenotaph.”
There is a remembrance event underway at the Cenotaph. Officers have prevented those not involved getting onto Whitehall so it can take place without disruption, as we committed.
They have faced unacceptable violence, including people throwing missiles and a metal barrier.… pic.twitter.com/tHnnKyRrKL
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 11, 2023
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
