LONDON (Reuters) – More than a thousand people gathered in central London on Saturday to protest a move aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus before police cracked down on the incident.
The protests, which led to 32 arrests, came as Prime Minister Boris Johnson was considering imposing some lockdown sanctions in England.
Protesters carried banners saying “Kovid is a hoax” and “My body, my choice: not a mandatory mask”, as well as shouting slogans at police: “Choose your side”.
Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck. Police in riot gear stormed a rally on Friday, removing hundreds of protesters by truck.
“This has led to an outbreak of hostility and violence against the authorities, which means we will now take enforcement action to disperse those living in the area,” the London Metropolitan Police said in a statement.
Under a law introduced to slow the spread of infection, the people of England are not allowed to gather in more than six groups. Political protests are allowed, but only if organizers follow guidelines to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.
Organizers of previous anti-lockdown protests have been fined up to પા 10,000 (12,914).
At Saturday’s event, some protesters opposed mandatory vaccines, as well as more general distrust of the government, the media and the World Health Organization.
Britain has suffered the highest number of deaths from coronavirus in Europe, with more than 41,000 people dying at the government’s discretionary measure. Demand for national testing for the disease has not continued with demand since schools resumed this month.
The increase in the number of cases in parts of Scotland, Wales and the north of England has already reduced local restrictions on people inviting friends to their homes and the opening hours of pubs and restaurants.
Reported by Henry Nichols; Written by David Milliken; Edited by Rose Russell and Mike Harrison
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