Ten people arrested at pro-Palestine demonstration in London

Nine more people have been arrested at a pro-Palestine march in central London, bringing the total to 10.

Officers have made nine further arrests during an incident at Hyde Park Corner. A man who was seen in the crowd with an antisemitic placard has been arrested for inciting racial hatred.

When officers went in to arrest him they were assaulted, resulting in six arrests for assaulting an emergency worker, Met Police said.

Two other people were arrested for refusing to remove face coverings when required to do so by officers.

The first arrest was made on suspicion of support for a proscribed organisation in relation to a placard ahead of the start of the march at 1.30pm, police said.

Police say an order is in place until 8pm in much of central London which requires anyone wearing a face covering for the purpose of concealing their identity to remove it when asked to do so.

There is also a dispersal order in place until 11pm, meaning anyone refusing a direction to leave the area can be arrested.

Between 200,000 and 250,000 people have gathered for the demonstration, a spokesperson for the Palestine Solidarity Campaign said.

Around 1,500 police officers from forces across the UK are on the streets of London, with the protesters going along Park Lane, Knightsbridge and Kensington Road, then ending at the junction with Kensington Court, where speeches will be made.

According to the Campaign Against Antisemitism, organisers advertised a start time of 12.30pm, but Met Police said starting at 1.30pm would allow time for a synagogue event to finish.

Speakers will address crowds near the Israeli embassy and they must stop by 5pm, while protesters must leave by 6pm, police said.

The Met said “there will be some who ask why” a decision to allow the protest so close to the embassy was allowed but that it is a “common misconception” that forces can allow or refuse permission for a protest to take place.

There must be “a real risk of serious disorder” sufficient for police to request that the Home Secretary ban the protest, which the Met said was not expected on Saturday.

A number of further restrictions are being implemented by police during the protest.

Protesters will be kept more than 100m away from the embassy grounds, behind barriers controlled by officers, and face arrest if they do not do so.

Precautions have also been taken to ensure the presence of protesters does not unnecessarily disrupt other sensitive premises, including synagogues, either near the start or along the route.

Police have also said no gazebos or other stalls can be erected in a specified area at Marble Arch and that anyone participating in the march must not deviate from the route.

Ahead of the protest, Commander Kyle Gordon, who is lead the policing operation, said: “We are there to ensure protests take place lawfully, minimising disruption to the life of the wider public and in a way that gives due consideration to the cumulative impact on London’s communities and those who feel most vulnerable in the current climate.

“The protests we have seen since October have thankfully been largely peaceful and we must take this into account in our policing approach. I hope the same will be true this Saturday.

“Unfortunately, despite this, we have regularly seen officers having to deal with offences related to placards and other hate speech.

“We do not underestimate the fear this causes, nor the impact of such criminal and unacceptable behaviour on wider community relations,” Commander Gordon added.

“I would appeal to all those attending the protest on Saturday to act within the law and to consider the impact of their actions on the safety and security of others. We will not hesitate to take action against those who fail to do so.”