The Metropolitan Police have taken the unprecedented step of urging organisers to cancel a planned pro-Palestine demonstration in Trafalgar Square tomorrow, warning that the Manchester synagogue terror attack has created “significant fear and concern” in communities across the capital. The force said deploying officers to manage the protest would divert crucial resources from protecting vulnerable communities at a time of heightened security threat.
The demonstration, organised by Defend Our Juries and expected to draw at least 1,500 participants, was planned in opposition to the government’s proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. The Metropolitan Police condemned the organisers for “encouraging mass law breaking” at a time when every available officer is needed to ensure community safety following yesterday’s deadly attack in Manchester.
In a strongly-worded statement, the Met said the protest would force them to redirect resources away from protecting London’s communities “at a time when they are needed most,” directly linking the Manchester attack to security concerns in the capital.
Tensions Erupt in London Streets
The police appeal comes after pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with Met officers in London yesterday evening, with some reportedly chanting “death to the IDF” just hours after two members of the Jewish community were killed and three seriously injured in the Manchester terrorist attack.
The timing of these demonstrations, coming immediately after the attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue during Yom Kippur, has heightened tensions and raised serious concerns about community relations and public order.
The arrests yesterday evening underscore the volatile atmosphere in the capital, with police struggling to maintain order whilst also responding to elevated security threats against Jewish institutions following the Manchester attack.
Palestine Action Proscription Controversy
The planned protest centres on opposition to the government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. This designation means that membership of or support for the direct action group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Palestine Action has been known for targeting companies it claims are complicit in Israeli military operations, including arms manufacturers and technology firms. The group’s proscription represents a significant escalation in the government’s approach to pro-Palestinian activism that crosses into direct action or property damage.
Defend Our Juries, the organisers of tomorrow’s protest, have positioned the demonstration as a defence of civil liberties and opposition to what they view as criminalisation of Palestine solidarity. However, the Metropolitan Police have characterised the planned gathering as “support for a terrorist organisation,” raising the stakes considerably.
Police Resources Under Strain
The Metropolitan Police’s statement reveals the severe strain on resources following the Manchester attack. “Yet at a time when we want to be deploying every available officer to ensure the safety of those communities, we are instead having to plan for a gathering of more than 1,000 people in Trafalgar Square on Saturday in support of a terrorist organisation,” the force stated.
This stark assessment highlights the operational challenges facing police as they attempt to balance the right to protest with security imperatives following a major terrorist incident. The force’s public appeal for cancellation represents an unusual intervention, suggesting serious concerns about their ability to manage multiple security priorities simultaneously.
The Met’s reference to “mass law breaking” suggests they anticipate the protest itself may involve criminal activity, given that expressing support for a proscribed organisation is now illegal. This creates a complex policing scenario where the mere act of demonstrating could constitute a criminal offence for participants.
Community Fear and Security Concerns
The Metropolitan Police explicitly linked their appeal to the “horrific terrorist attack” in Manchester, acknowledging it has caused “significant fear and concern in communities across the UK, including here in London.” This recognition of widespread anxiety reflects the reality that Jewish communities nationwide are feeling vulnerable following the targeting of worshippers on their holiest day.
Security sources indicate that synagogues, Jewish schools, and community centres across London have requested enhanced protection following the Manchester attack. The diversion of officers to manage a large protest would directly impact the police’s ability to provide this reassurance through visible patrols.
The force’s statement that they need “every available officer to ensure the safety of those communities” suggests an all-hands-on-deck approach to community protection in the wake of the terrorist attack.
Legal Implications for Protesters
The proscription of Palestine Action creates unprecedented legal risks for protest participants. Under the Terrorism Act, it is an offence to belong to or profess to belong to a proscribed organisation, to invite support for such an organisation, or to arrange or manage meetings to support its activities.
This means that protesters tomorrow could face serious criminal charges simply for attending or expressing support, with potential sentences of up to 14 years imprisonment. The severity of these penalties marks a dramatic escalation from typical public order offences associated with protests.
Legal experts have raised concerns about the implications for freedom of expression and assembly, whilst acknowledging the government’s authority to proscribe organisations deemed to be involved in terrorism. The intersection of protest rights and counter-terrorism legislation creates a complex legal landscape that protesters must navigate.
Organisers’ Response
Defend Our Juries have not yet publicly responded to the Metropolitan Police’s appeal for cancellation. The group, which campaigns on issues related to jury rights and civil liberties, faces a difficult decision about whether to proceed with the demonstration given the changed security context and police opposition.
The organisers must weigh their stated objectives against the risk of being seen as insensitive to the Jewish community’s fears following the Manchester attack. Additionally, they face the practical challenge that many potential attendees may be deterred by the legal risks of participating in a demonstration supporting a proscribed organisation.
Previous protests organised by various pro-Palestinian groups have drawn thousands to London’s streets, particularly since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and subsequent Gaza conflict. However, tomorrow’s demonstration occurs in markedly different circumstances given both the proscription and the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack.
Political Ramifications
The Metropolitan Police’s intervention places additional pressure on politicians to address the balance between protest rights and security concerns. The government’s decision to proscribe Palestine Action has already proven controversial, with civil liberties groups arguing it represents an overreach of counter-terrorism powers.
Home Office sources indicate that the proscription decision was based on intelligence about the group’s activities and links, though specific details remain classified. The timing of the first major protest against this decision, coming immediately after a terrorist attack, creates a volatile political situation.
Opposition politicians face the delicate task of defending civil liberties whilst not appearing insensitive to security concerns or the Jewish community’s fears. The government, meanwhile, will likely use any disruption as validation of their tough stance on groups they deem extremist.
Wider Impact on Community Relations
The convergence of the Manchester attack and planned Palestine protest threatens to further strain already tense community relations. British Muslims have reported increased hostility since October 7, whilst Jewish communities cite record levels of antisemitism.
Community leaders from various backgrounds have called for calm and dialogue, warning against allowing extremists to dictate the narrative. However, the planned protest’s timing makes such appeals for unity more challenging.
The incident highlights the spillover effects of international conflicts on British streets, with communities here bearing the consequences of events in the Middle East. Police are particularly concerned about the potential for counter-protests or confrontations between different groups.
Security Preparations
Despite urging cancellation, the Metropolitan Police must still prepare for the possibility that the protest proceeds. This involves significant resources including public order units, intelligence gathering, and coordination with counter-terrorism command.
Sources indicate that Trafalgar Square and surrounding areas would require extensive security measures, including barriers, search points, and a heavy police presence. These preparations necessarily draw officers away from community reassurance patrols in areas with significant Jewish populations.
The force faces the additional challenge of distinguishing between lawful protest and criminal support for a proscribed organisation, requiring careful evidence gathering and potentially numerous arrests.
Previous Incidents and Patterns
Yesterday’s clashes and chants of “death to the IDF” fit a pattern of escalating rhetoric at some pro-Palestinian demonstrations. While organisers of mainstream protests have consistently condemned antisemitism and violence, smaller groups have sometimes engaged in more extreme behaviour.
The timing of such chants, hours after a deadly attack on a synagogue, has been widely condemned as insensitive at best and inflammatory at worst. Jewish community leaders have pointed to such incidents as examples of why enhanced security is necessary.
The Metropolitan Police have made numerous arrests at previous protests for various offences including incitement to racial hatred, public order violations, and support for proscribed organisations. Tomorrow’s protest presents unique challenges given the blanket criminalisation of support for Palestine Action.
Looking Ahead
The Metropolitan Police’s appeal represents a significant moment in the ongoing debate about protest rights, security, and community cohesion in Britain. Whether Defend Our Juries proceeds with their demonstration will send important signals about how activist groups respond to security concerns and community sensitivities.
If the protest proceeds, the police response will be closely watched as a test case for managing demonstrations supporting proscribed organisations. Mass arrests could spark further controversy about civil liberties, whilst a hands-off approach might be seen as inconsistent enforcement of terrorism legislation.
The broader challenge remains how to balance legitimate political expression about international conflicts with the need to protect communities from extremism and maintain social cohesion. The Manchester attack has sharpened these dilemmas, forcing difficult decisions on all parties involved.
Immediate Priorities
For now, the Metropolitan Police’s primary concern remains protecting vulnerable communities in the wake of yesterday’s terrorist attack. Their unprecedented public appeal for protest cancellation reflects the severity of the current security situation and resource constraints.
The force has promised enhanced visibility around Jewish institutions throughout London, with community leaders reporting increased patrols and security measures. However, these commitments are complicated by the potential need to police a major demonstration in central London.
As the capital braces for what could be a tense weekend, the focus remains on preventing further violence whilst protecting the rights and safety of all communities. The Metropolitan Police’s appeal may ultimately be remembered as either a necessary security measure or an overreach, depending on what unfolds in the coming days.
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Image Credit:
Solidarity protest for Palestine in London — photo by Steve Eason / Geograph (cropped), licensed under CC BY 2.0
