Police arrested three people after protests outside Israel’s London embassy on Monday night, with further arrests possible after criminal damage to a building on Kensington High Street.
Of those arrested, one was taken in for assault on an emergency worker, another for racially-motivated criminal damage and the third for possessing an offensive weapon, the Metropolitan Police said.
Palestinian and Israeli supporters clashed at a London Underground station as police desperately tried to keep the peace on a night where thousands of pro-Palestine protesters descended on the Israeli embassy.
Video showed dozens of police officers attempting to separate demonstrators at High Street Kensington Tube station in west London as more than 1,000 pro-Palestine activists gathered on the streets outside.
Fireworks were seen being launched by protesters on Kensington High Street – some towards the boarded up Israeli embassy – as those supporting Palestine told MailOnline that there is ‘no way to change the Middle East peacefully’.
In stark contrast to the dancing, singing and flares in Kensington – and other heated protests across the UK – weeping Israelis gathered outside Downing Street to hold a vigil for the victims and hostages taken by Hamas who launched a violent assault over the Gaza border on Saturday.
Rishi Sunak also visited a London synagogue to show his support for Israel – and later condemned Hamas in a joint statement with his French, German, American and Italian counterparts. Nearly 1,600 people have been killed in the conflict in three days – many of whom are civilians.
Tensions spill over into scuffle at Pro-Palestinian demonstration in London. A young man set off a firework during the gathering on Kensington High Street. As Met police intervened, several other protesters waded into the melee. #London pic.twitter.com/6jm7fqKcqK
— Urban Pictures (@Urban_Pictures) October 9, 2023