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London police clashed with protesters on Saturday (local time) when they broke up a protest in Trafalgar Square against Covid-19 restrictions amid mounting tensions over limits in everyday life as the government tries to stem a sharp rise in infections .
Police and protesters were injured as officers moved after three hours of speeches in front of thousands of people filling London’s iconic square with banners opposing mandatory vaccinations, mask requirements and limits on freedoms. civilians.
Police said they intervened because the protesters refused to abide by the same social distancing rules that were there to protest. Officers removed the sound equipment, bottles were thrown and police drew their batons in clashes with protesters. Several people were seen being taken away handcuffed.
Hollie Adams / Getty Images
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 26: A man is arrested by police officers during an anti-lockdown rally “We do not give our consent” in Trafalgar Square on September 26, 2020 in London, England. Thousands of anti-mask protesters protested in Trafalgar Square after the British government imposed stricter laws on coronavirus this week. (Photo by Hollie Adams / Getty Images)
“The crowds in Trafalgar Square have not met the conditions of their risk assessment and are putting people at risk of transmitting the virus,” the Met said.
The rally took place as Parliament prepares to review Covid-19 legislation and the government imposes new restrictions to control the disease. Some lawmakers have criticized the government for implementing the rules without parliamentary approval.
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Speakers at the rally denied they were conspiracy theorists, arguing that they defended freedom of expression and human rights.
Dan Astin-Gregory, a leadership coach, acknowledged the deaths and suffering caused by the pandemic, but said the response to Covid-19 has been disproportionate to the threat caused by the disease.
“We are tired of the spread of fear and misrepresentation of the facts,” he told the crowd.
“We are tired of the restrictions on our freedoms.”
Frank Augstein / AP
English conspiracy theorist David Icke speaks during the ‘We do not give consent’ rally in Trafalgar Square in London, UK.
Earlier this week, the government ordered a 10 p.m. curfew in bars and restaurants across the country, along with stricter mask requirements and increased fines for non-compliance. It has also banned most social gatherings of more than six people, but there is an exemption for protests as long as the organizers submit a risk assessment and comply with social distancing rules.
Before the rally started, police said they would encourage protesters to follow the rules, but would take enforcement action if protesters did not comply.
“I know there is great frustration with these regulations, but they have been designed to keep everyone safe from what is a deadly virus,” Commander Ade Adelekan said Saturday morning.
Hollie Adams / Getty Images
Protesters clash with police officers during the protest.
When the demonstration began, officers in high-visibility vests and surgical masks were visible around the perimeter of the square, but there was no effort to silence the speakers or prevent the protesters from gathering.
The atmosphere turned tense later in the afternoon when officers in soft caps were replaced by others in riot gear and face shields. As some protesters shouted: “You are part of the tyranny”, others chanted: “All you need is love.”
Saturday’s rally came a week after a similar event during which thousands of people crowded Trafalgar Square. Police said several officers were injured during that event when a “small minority” of protesters turned violent.
Britain has the worst death toll from the pandemic in Europe, with nearly 42,000 confirmed deaths related to Covid-19. New infections, hospitalizations, and deaths have risen sharply in recent weeks.
In addition to national Covid-19 rules, several jurisdictions have imposed stricter restrictions to control local spikes in the disease. By Monday, around a quarter of the UK’s 65 million people will be living under these increased restrictions.
London, home to nearly 9 million people, was added to the British government’s Covid-19 watch list on Friday as an “area of concern.” That means the UK capital could also face new restrictions if infections continue to rise in the city.
