Pro-Palestine protests: 5 key developments you may have missed
While the majority of the march in central London was peaceful, there were some clashes between police and counter-protesters.
Police made over 100 arrests in central London after clashes between officers and far-right counter-protesters during a pro-Palestinian march.
The violence came as hundreds of thousands of people marched through the capital as part of a planned demonstration.
Despite the main march proceeding peacefully, the Metropolitan Police fought with counter-protesters and made dozens of arrests among this group.
Authorities also said they were searching for individuals who appeared to wear Hamas headbands and brandished offensive signs during the main protest.
Following the unrest, home secretary Suella Braverman has faced criticism from some quarters, with calls for her resignation over accusations of inflaming tensions and "emboldening" the far-right.
More than ‘800,000’ attend protest
Organisers of the pro-Palestinian march claimed more than 800,000 people attended the protest.
A woman using a speaker system from a stage 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 had claimed earlier on Saturday that around 300,000 had been at the demonstration in central London, the BBC reported.
The police added there were also “several hundred” counter-protesters in central London.
Dozens of arrests made as police clash with far-right protestors
Dozens of counter-protestors were arrested as they clashed with police in central London.
A total of 82 people were detained in Tachbrook Street, Pimlico, to “prevent a breach of the peace” as the march passed through the capital.
Police said those arrested were part of a “large group” of counter-protesters who had “tried to reach the main protest march”.
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Suella Braverman accused of fuelling far-right violence near Cenotaph (Guardian)
Gove bundled out of station after being mobbed by pro-Palestinian protesters (Telegraph)
PM condemns ‘wholly unacceptable’ violence of far-right and ‘Hamas sympathisers’ (PA)
Reports suggested that some people were detained and prevented from leaving the nearby White Swan pub with a heavy police presence outside, including officers on horseback.
Trouble had started in the morning when far-right counter-protestors clashed with police near the Cenotaph in Whitehall.
Suella Braverman under fire over clashes
The home secretary was blamed for inflaming tensions ahead of Saturday's march.
Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf said Braverman had "emboldened" the far-right and should resign, while mayor of London Sadiq Khan blamed her for clashes.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper also took a swipe at Braverman, saying: "Everyone must reflect on the impact of their words & actions. It is the responsibility of all of us to bring people together over this weekend not divide and inflame.”
Gove mobbed by pro-Palestine protesters as police investigate ‘antisemitic’ incidents
Michael Gove was protected by police as he was surrounded by pro-Palestinian protesters at Victoria Station in London.
Footage shared on social media showed the senior Cabinet minister flanked by a large police contingent trying to keep dozens of demonstrators away from him as he passed through the London railway station.
The flag-waving protesters crowding him were heard chanting “shame on you” as officers shouted at them to “get back”.
Met Police also confirmed they were looking for two people appearing to wear Hamas headbands during the Palestine rally after images were posted online.
There were also claims that antisemitic posters were brandished at the protest and a minority also sang antisemitic songs.
Police later detained a breakaway group of around 150 people from the pro-Palestinian demonstration in Grosvenor Place.
They said the group were firing fireworks and many were wearing face coverings.
Sunak condemns actions by far-right group and “Hamas sympathisers”
Rishi Sunak has condemned “wholly unacceptable” violence by far-right groups and “Hamas sympathisers” on the pro-Palestinian march, and put pressure on police by saying “all criminality must be met with the full and swift force of the law”.
The prime minister said the ugly scenes in central London on Armistice Day “utterly disrespects” the spirit of remembrance.
He will meet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley in the coming days to hold him “accountable” for the handling of the disturbances.
Sunak said in a statement: “I condemn the violent, wholly unacceptable scenes we have seen today from the EDL (English Defence League) and associated groups and Hamas sympathisers attending the National March for Palestine.
“The despicable actions of a minority of people undermine those who have chosen to express their views peacefully.”
