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More than 60 people have been arrested when anti-blockade protesters clashed with police in central London.
Hundreds of protesters marched through the city near Oxford Street chanting “freedom” on Saturday, with some carrying banners reading “stop controlling us” and “no more lockdowns.”
The Metropolitan Police said the arrests were for a number of alleged crimes, including violation of coronavirus regulations, and expected the number to rise.
Protesters and police clash in central London
“We continue to urge people to go home,” added the force.
Sky News reporter Ivor Bennett, who is at the scene, said there were “quite violent and aggressive clashes” between police and some protesters.
“People were throwing flares, there was red smoke and green smoke,” he said.
“The police were trying to boil the protesters in one place and divide the big group.”
Groups of helmeted police officers were seen running to respond to protesters at Oxford Circus, Carnaby Street and Regent Street.
Traffic was temporarily blocked on Regent Street when police tried to handcuff people to the ground in the middle of the road.
Several people were detained by the police.
The police action was greeted with boos and chants of “what a shame” as the protesters, many of them without masks, ignored requests to go home.
Other signs carried by the protesters said “get rid of the masks” and “no to the mandatory masks”.
The Metropolitan Police said three people were arrested for allegedly violating coronavirus restrictions at King’s Cross station in London before the rally.
A man is detained by the police during the anti-blockade protest in London
People were also taken away in handcuffs during the protest in London’s Hyde Park.
The Metropolitan Police had urged people not to attend the protests this weekend and warned those who attend the risk execution actions by the agents.
The protest is not a permitted exemption to the ban on gatherings under current coronavirus regulations in England, the force said.
