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Up to 2,000 far right counter protesters were caught in skirmishes with police before two minutes’ silence passed undisturbed on Armistice Day.
Footage showed crowds barging past police and climbing on bollards on Saturday morning as counter protesters were penned in on Whitehall.
Crowds of men were chanting and climbing on bollards with pockets of disorder breaking out. However silence fell at 11am as two-minutes silence was observed.
English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson was among the crowds gathered on Whitehall after he issued a rallying cry to his supporters to turn out to “defend” the Cenotaph.
It comes as police are braced for hundreds of thousands of protesters to descend on London today at a pro-Palestine demonstration, as a senior Scotland Yard chief said officers will likely have to use force in the protest.
The latest pro-Palestine march in the capital is calling for an immediate ceasefire in the deadly Israel-Gaza conflict that erupted last month.
Braverman ‘added fuel to the fire’ by calling protest ‘hate marches'
Tom Watling at Marble Arch
Suella Braverman has added “fuel to the fire” in stoking hate between community relationships, the chair of Friends of Al-Aqsa, said.
Speaking to Tom Watling, Ismail Patel said: “For this march , there is two parts. There is what is happening in Gaza, which is bringing a lot of anxiety and concern. But here, Suella Braverman has really put fuel on the fire of community relationships, trying to delegitimise us as hate marchers.
“The Home secretary’s violation has led to a deflection away from what is happening in Gaza on the ground.
“The situation on the ground is horrendous. We have managed to speak to a few people there. Unfortunately several of the people with whom we were speaking are no longer with us.
“It’s a real unfolding situation happening where we can’t do much to help and that is very disheartening.
“It is extremely difficult to help with this while the situation in Gaza unfolds. It is both emotionally draining and physically demanding.
“Also at the same time, we are very conscious of the risk of putting other people in danger. But we have to carry on.
“It is very telling that nobody today is saying anything about the far-right counter marches today.”
‘We are calling for an armistice on Armistice Day'
Tom Watling reports from Marble Arch as pro-Palestine protesters begin to gather:
As the two minutes’ silence began at 11am, a lone man wearing a red, green, white and black Palestinian flag, as well as a red poppy on his lapel, stood in silence at Marble Arch.
He was surrounded by dozens of demonstrators waving flags.
A black sign behind the lone man read “Free Palestine”. Another one, fake blood splotches staining the white sign, read simply: “Stop the Massacre”.
For all but that lone man, the two minutes’ silence came and went without notice. It was not why they had come here.
There are almost no poppies in sight around Marble Arch and along Park Lane, where the demonstrators have gathered. They will soon March to the US Embassy.
But all three organisers of the demonstrations today have been explicit in their respect for Armistice Day, and there has been no anti-remembrance rhetoric this far.
Mustafa Al-Dabbagh, the head of the Muslim Association of Britain, said moments after the silence that remembrance and the pro-Palestinian movement go “hand in hand”.
“We are calling for an armistice on Armistice Day,” he said. “If people don’t understand that, it’s very disappointing.”
As two minutes’ silence comes to an end, tension builds for pro-Palestine protest
Zander Butler is reporting from the Cenotaph:
As the Cenotaph service came to an end and bagpipes played, a group of men wearing flat caps and poppies stood outside the Red Lion pub drinking beer.
“Freedom!” one shouted. Others stood around smoking.
Two West Ham fans, wearing poppies and club badges, said it was an “outrage” people were marching for Palestine.
“They need to show some respect. They don’t have a right to do it.”
In pictures: Tommy Robinson talks to police ahead of two minutes’ silence
Tommy Robinson was seen talking to police as he arrived at the Cenotaph to observe the two minutes’ silence.
Skirmishes reported between far-right protesters and police ahead of two minutes’ silence- but no arrests
Fighting has been reported as people tried to reach the Cenotaph ahead of the two minutes’ silence.
Video footage shows far-right protesters clashing with police in skirmishes near the Cenotaph.
It does not appear that any arrests have been made yet.
Stay tuned for more updates.
In pictures: Crowds stand in silence at the Cenotaph on Armistice Day
Large crowds gathered at the Cenotaph to observe the two minutes’ silence on Armistice Day.
No disruption during two minutes’ silence
Zander Butler reports live from the Cenotaph:
Round the corner from the Cenotaph, loud, clamorous crowds were seen pushing past police two minutes before 11.
One man, standing with a beer can, started talking before the silence but was quickly silenced as he was told to show some respect.
After much anticipation this week, there was, after all, no disruption during the two minutes’ silence.
Afterwards, jeers were heard from people standing with St George flags.
Footage shows far-right protesters barging past police near Cenotaph
A video posted on social media shows far-right protesters barging past police near Whitehall and the Cenotaph.
In pictures:
Police officers monitor the crowds lining up to view the two minute's silence near to the Cenotaph on Whitehall in central London.
Live: View of Cenotaph in London as Remembrance Day silence held amid protests
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2023-11-11 11:07:20Z
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