Met Police arrest more than 175 Palestine Action supporters after protesters descend on central London

"Our policing operation in Trafalgar Square continues," the force said.

"As of 3.45pm officers had made 175 arrests for supporting a proscribed organisation, including the six on Westminster Bridge earlier."

The banner backing Palestine Action was unfurled at Westminster Bridge earlier today.

The campaigners from Defend Our Juries initially struggled to get the banners out in the wind, but managed to hold two banners over the north side of the bridge, which read "I oppose genocide" and "I support Palestine Action".

The Met Police said: "Officers were quickly on scene, the banner had been removed and the six people involved have been arrested for supporting a proscribed organisation."

Around 1,500 people, "including priests, vicars, pensioners and healthcare workers", are in attendance in the "Lift The Ban" protest in Trafalgar Square.

As police processed more arrests, protesters stood outside the pen and chanted "Met Police, you decide: Justice or genocide".

People supporting Palestine Action at the Lift the Ban event have been told not to resist arrest and have been seen following police instructions.

Defend Our Juries, which organised the event, said 79-year-old Elizabeth Morley, a Jewish woman and daughter of a Holocaust survivor, is among the 175 to be arrested.

The campaign group said this is the third time Ms Taylor has been arrested at such a protest.

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Just after 1pm, protesters began clapping before sitting down, chanting "free, free Palestine".

Some began writing "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action", while others held pre-written signs.

City of London police officers have arrived to support the Metropolitan Police.

Dozens of police officers were lined up next to Nelson’s Column in central London, awaiting the expected arrival of hundreds of protesters supporting the banned group Palestine Action.

Several campaigners from the Stop the War coalition have been seen in Trafalgar Square, holding placards and Palestine flags.

The force has continued to urge the group to call off its plans, arguing that the protests are "drawing valuable resources away from the communities of London at a time when they are needed most".

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: "At a time when we want to be deploying every available officer to ensure the safety of those communities, we are instead having to plan for a gathering of more than 1,000 people in Trafalgar Square on Saturday in support of a terrorist organisation.

"By deliberately choosing to encourage mass law breaking on this scale, Defend Our Juries are drawing valuable resources away from the communities of London at a time when they are needed most."

A similar event, held by Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine and taking place regularly over the last two years, is also scheduled to occur.

Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Sir Stephen Watson urged would-be attendees at the protest to "consider whether this is really the right time".

Police forces have deployed extra officers to synagogues and other Jewish buildings to offer protection and reassurance in the aftermath of the attack.

The Prime Minister said events could cause further turmoil for the families of victims and the Jewish communities.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told GB News: "The marches, in my view, should be stopped. And I say that for two reasons.

"Firstly, as a mark of respect to the families of the victims in Manchester and indeed the whole Jewish community in the United Kingdom who are in grief and shock, as you would expect.

"The second reason is the police, both in Manchester and the Metropolitan Police in London, have said they don't have the resources to both properly police the protest and also protect the Jewish community and synagogues at the same time."

Concerns over the timing come as two Jewish men were killed on Yom Kippur two days ago in a horrific terror attack in Manchester.

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