Three have been arrested so far as thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of London in support of Iran’s Islamic regime.
Participants waved Iranian flags and displayed images of the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with placards claiming the slain despot was on the “right side of history”.
They assembled at Albert Embankment on Sunday, following Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s decision to prohibit the planned march through central London.
They had gathered for al-Quds Day, an annual pro-Palestinian event that opposes Israel and Zionism.
Counter-protestors gathered on the north bank, with some displaying flags of Israel and Iran before the Islamic revolution.
In a post on X, the Metropolitan Police said: “Lambeth Bridge remains closed to keep both groups apart.
“Officers have made three arrests, one for showing support for a proscribed organisation, one for dangerous driving and a third for threatening and abusive behaviour.”
Metropolitan Police commanders deployed an unprecedented tactic to prevent clashes between the two sides, positioning the River Thames itself as a physical barrier separating the groups.
Three have been arrested at protests in the capital
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Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of London in support of Iran’s Islamic regime
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The Met said: ‘Officers have made three arrests, one for showing support for a proscribed organisation, one for dangerous driving and a third for threatening and abusive behaviour’
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Participants waved Iranian flags and displayed images of the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
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The protestors were gathering in support of Iran’s Islamist regime
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More than 1,000 police officers, including personnel drafted in from other forces, are on duty across the area to preserve order
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The demonstrators are gathering for Quds Day, an annual pro-Palestinian event that opposes Israel and Zionism
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The annual gathering is usually held in the last days of Ramadan
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Counter-protestors gathered on the north bank, with some displaying flags of Israel and Iran before the Islamic revolution
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Scotland Yard used the River Thames itself as a physical barrier separating the groups.
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Counter-protestors waved a variety of flags
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More than 1,000 police officers, including personnel drafted in from other forces, are on duty across the area, while Lambeth Bridge has been closed to all but emergency vehicles.
Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley made the unusual decision to request the march be prohibited, citing significant concerns about the likelihood of serious public disorder.
The Home Secretary granted the application, citing the demonstration’s scale and the presence of numerous counter-protests against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.
However, while authorities possess the power to ban marches, the law does not extend to preventing static gatherings, meaning organisers were able to call on supporters to convene in the capital regardless.
Officers have been instructed to act swiftly against any behaviour that crosses into criminality during the demonstrations.
The Metropolitan Police stated this would encompass voicing support for proscribed terrorist organisations, engaging in hate speech, or calling for a global intifada.