Three London police officers were injured, one seriously, and 40 people were arrested during an anti-Israel protest in the Whitehall area of Westminster on Tuesday night, according to Scotland Yard.
According to a Metropolitan Police statement, the officers were assaulted, with a female officer suffering a “serious facial injury when she was struck by a bottle thrown from within the crowd.” The other two officers sustained minor injuries.
Officers made 40 arrests during a protest in Westminster on Tuesday evening.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) May 29, 2024
Regrettably three officers were injured, one seriously.
The details of the policing operation are set out below. pic.twitter.com/7dmAQhWWCS
The suspect in the assault has not been identified yet and an investigation has been launched into the incident.
Police said that the violence occurred after the official demonstration ended, when a group of around 500 out of the 8,000 to 10,000 at the event stayed to protest in violation of police orders. Law enforcement officers began making arrests.
Police said some in the crowd resisted arrest, requiring officers to use force. The protesters then broke away, marching to Bridge Street, outside the Westminster subway station, where cordons were placed to detain them.
Officers are identifying the ringleaders in this group and specialist arrest teams in protective equipment are going into the crowd to detain and extract them. pic.twitter.com/QDHr7b04kI
— Westminster Police | Central West BCU (@MPSWestminster) May 28, 2024
The 40 people were arrested for offenses including breach of Public Order Act conditions, blocking the highway and assaulting emergency workers.
The demonstration was organized by a coalition of anti-Israel groups, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
