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Five policemen were injured and 29 people arrested when anti-blockade protesters clashed with police in central London.
Hundreds of people marched in Parliament Square from Oxford Street and Regents Street earlier despite fears that a mutant strain of coronavirus is rapidly spreading through the city.
Police had warned people not to attend large gatherings this close to Christmas and additional officers were deployed to try to ensure social distancing rules were followed.
But there were horrific scenes as officers tried to control the crowd and several protesters were taken to police vans.
There were several clashes between officers and unmasked protesters, who chanted ‘we demand freedom’.
Andreas Michli, a Wood Green gym owner who refused to close his door during the second national lockdown, was one of multiple people who have been arrested.
“I’m going to keep doing this until we are free,” he said as he was led to a police van.
It came as Boris Johnson announced that several areas in the east and south-east of England would be under level four restrictions, the harshest in the UK.
The protesters, many of whom were not wearing masks, marched through central London carrying banners that read things like ‘Why vaccinate against something that 99% of people beat?’ And ‘It’s not about a virus, it’s about control.’
The Metropolitan Police account later tweeted: “Today we arrested 29 people after city-wide demonstrations.
“Unacceptably, five of our officers were injured; fortunately, their injuries are not serious.”
Before the rally started, Scotland Yard issued an open letter urging people not to attend.
The force said there will be more officers on the streets of London to encourage compliance with the strict regulations and “swiftly suppress those who willfully and dangerously ignore them.”
Other protests took place in UK cities across the country, but London’s was the largest.
The open letter asked people not to attend any large gatherings and warned that they could be at risk of committing a crime if they do.
Coronavirus laws prohibit gatherings of more than six in the open, although there is a list of exemptions that includes protests in which all relevant safety precautions apply.
The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers in England and Wales, wrote to Home Secretary Priti Patel earlier this week, highlighting the health risks of such police protests.
National President John Apter and Metropolitan Police Police Federation President Ken Marsh described the Christmas pass along with a mass demonstration as a “potentially deadly and unmanageable mix.”
Deputy Deputy Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: ‘When we become aware of planned events that will violate regulations, we will try to engage with the organizers or venues so they are fully aware of the restrictions that are in place to keep people safe.
‘However, if people don’t listen to our advice and abide by the rules, we will be forced to take enforcement action.
“With the rapid increase in infection rates in the capital, we must all help prevent the spread of the virus.
“This is the last weekend before Christmas, so now is not the time for complacency. I know that Londoners know what they should and should not do and I urge everyone to act wisely and do their part to keep our city safe.
“Meeting established guidelines to keep all of us safe and sound is more important now than ever.
“This weekend we will make sure to address the activity of a select few so as not to expose our communities to even greater risk during this pandemic.”
Some 11 people were arrested after a rally by about 200 protesters in London’s Parliament Square on Monday for alleged crimes, including breaching Covid-19 regulations, Public Order Act offenses and assaulting an emergency worker .
During the second national shutdown in late November, more than 150 people were arrested as activists marched from Hyde Park to Oxford Circus and Regent Street, clashing with police.
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