Thousands of people have marched through central London calling for a free Palestine as tensions grow over an impending Israeli ground offensive in Gaza.
A pronounced police presence reflected sensitivities surrounding the march, but no arrests were reported after warnings that action would be taken against anyone showing support for Hamas or deviating from the agreed route.
Minutes before the march set off, Scotland Yard announced that its counter-terrorism police were looking into more than 50 cases of “potential terrorist content online” in the period since Hamas launched its attack against Israel last Saturday.
The home secretary, Suella Braverman, had said earlier in the week that waving a Palestinian flag might be a criminal offence. Few at the march seemed to take such a threat seriously, with a sea of Palestinian flags visible as the crowd moved slowly down Regent Street towards Whitehall. (+ video) » | Mark Townsend | Saturday, October 14, 2023
