Met Police clear pro-Palestinian protest and arrest one campaigner on suspicion of inciting racial hatred over a placard

People gathered tonight in protest waving flags and holding posters

The Metropolitan Police have cleared a pro-Palestinian protest tonight and arrested one campaigner.

Crowds of protestors gathered on Whitehall, opposite to Downing Street waving Palestinian flags and holding posters.

Officers attended the area as a safety measure and closed roads nearby due to the high number of protestors.

The mass of people eventually cleared this evening and officers ‘stood down,’ the Met shared in a post on X/Twitter.

Crowds of protestors gathered in a ‘static protest’ on Whitehall, opposite to Downing Street waving Palestinian flags and holding posters

The mass of people eventually cleared the area this evening and officers ‘stood down,’ the Met shared in a post on X/Twitter

One person was arrested during the protest, however, on suspicion of inciting racial hatred over a placard. Pictured: A view of protestors in London this evening

One person was arrested during the protest, however, ‘on suspicion of inciting racial hatred over a placard’.

An image of the placard had been shared by the Campaign Against Antisemitism account on the social media platform.

It appeared to show bags of money weighing down one side of a set of scales, alongside drawings of dollar signs inside the Jewish Star of David.

Once the crowd had reduced in size, Whitehall – which was previously closed – was reopened.

Officers had ‘imposed conditions’ on remaining protesters that required them to move away from the area.

The Metropolitan Police said on Twitter/X: ‘The crowd has reduced in size.

‘We have imposed conditions on those who remain requiring them to move out of the road and continue their protest on the pavement.

‘Those who don’t comply with these conditions can be arrested. Whitehall has now been reopened for traffic.

Later on, in an additional post, the Metropolitan Police said on Twitter/X: ‘All remaining protesters have now left the area and officers are standing down.

Once the crowd had reduced in size, Whitehall – which was previously closed – was reopened reopened and officers ‘imposed conditions’ on remaining protesters that required them to move away from the area

‘There was one arrest this evening on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in relation to a placard.’

The high number of protesters earlier this evening led to the Met shutting down the southbound carriageway starting from Horse Guards Avenue to Parliament Square.

Whitehall northbound also closed from Parliament Square to Horse Guards Avenue.

Previously closed Whitehall has since been reopened for traffic.