Twelve people were arrested as hundreds took part in the al-Quds Day demonstration in London on Sunday, while a similar number gathered on the opposite bank of the Thames for a counterprotest. At least 1,000 police officers were deployed to keep the two groups apart, and Lambeth Bridge remained closed throughout the afternoon.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are investigating chants of 'death, death to the IDF' led by Bobby Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster. The musician had led the same chant at Glastonbury Festival last year, but an investigation resulted in no further action. Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said arrests were made for offences including supporting a proscribed organisation, affray, and threatening behaviour.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood granted a police request to ban al-Quds protesters from marching for the first time since 2012, stating she expected the full force of the law to be applied against those spreading hatred. Police warned demonstrators on the Albert Embankment that placards, flags or chants crossing into hate crime or support for proscribed groups would lead to arrest. Some carried images of Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
On the Millbank side, a counterprotest organised by Stop the Hate and the Lion Guard of Iran saw protesters waving Israeli flags and the pre-1979 Iranian flag in support of Reza Pahlavi. Raham Moshami, who fled Iran after being tortured, described the Iranian government as a 'cancer' and voiced support for Netanyahu and Trump. Across the river, Fereydun Bahrami, who travelled from Glasgow, carried a placard reading 'Stop Using UK bases to bomb Iran' and said the al-Quds protest was against the war.
