Protesters surround police van after terror suspect arrested at pro-Gaza march in London

Pro-Palestine protesters surrounded a police van “to prevent it leaving” after a man was arrested on suspicion of a terrorism-related offence.

Dozens of demonstrators could be seen sitting in the street, while others crowded against the side of the van at the central London rally calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Metropolitan Police said it had made the arrest on the Strand on Saturday afternoon “in relation to inviting support for a proscribed organisation”.

Earlier, a man was captured on video, posted on X, saying: “I fully support Hamas. They resisted the occupation.” Separate footage showed him repeating the mantra several times while under restraint by officers as he was marched towards a police van.

🚨🚨🚨 MUST SHARE: protestor….

“I fully support Hamas”

Said clear as day pic.twitter.com/myburgbZW0

— Inc.Monocle (@IncMonocle) March 30, 2024

Officers could be seen remonstrating with protesters around the van, who shouted “we can’t hear you” and “let him go”. Multiple police vans of the Tactical Support Group with flashing lights then arrived at the scene.

Protesters gathered at Russell Square before marching through the city to Trafalgar Square. Some could be heard chanting “Long live Hamas, long live Hamas”.

One man shouted at a camera: “Who controls Britain? It’s the Jewish people that control Britain! Forty per cent of the MPs are Jewish and that’s why these police are under there.”

Only 3 per cent of MPs are Jewish as of last year,

Another protester was filmed leading a chant saying “Bye-bye Israel”.  I seem to rememeber that at Al Quds in the past

Meanwhile, a video emerged of a police officer challenged to arrest protesters allegedly waving swastikas.

When a woman asked him why waving a swastika was not disturbing public order, he said: “Everything needs to be taken in context doesn’t it?”

When the @metpoliceuk refuse to arrest Hamas supporters with a swastika sign today in London one officer told a girl that swastikas disturbing public order “depends on context”

If you’re holding a sign with a swastika at an anti-Israel march — this is blatantly antisemitic. Come… pic.twitter.com/MjDNnHomnv

— Emily Schrader – אמילי שריידר امیلی شریدر (@emilykschrader) March 30, 2024

Meanwhile in a pub in Bodmin the landlord was ordered to remove an historic item from the curio display, an armband presented to the pub by a returning soldier (Bodmin was then a garrison town) 80+ years ago because it bore a swastica. The Hole in the Wall has also lost it’s Campaign for Real Ale Award. The world has gone mad.