A City Hall meeting turned awkward when the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime mistakenly condemned violence at a Palestine Action protest, thinking it was from Unite the Kingdom demonstrators.
Kaya Comer-Schwartz was left red-faced after Councillor Susan Hall read a statement from the Metropolitan Police detailing officers being punched, kicked, spat on, and verbally abused by demonstrators.
Ms Hall said: "Some of this is alarming. I’ve been reading a statement from a Metropolitan Police commander, who noted that in carrying out their duties today, officers were punched, kicked, spat on, and had objects thrown at them by protesters.
"Would you agree, as I do, that this is an abhorrent treatment of police officers at protests?"
Susan Hall surprised the Deputy Mayor when she revealed the protest she was talking about
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The Deputy Mayor said: "I completely agree with you. It’s unacceptable. You may have seen media appeals for information on some of the individuals the police are investigating.
"There will be continued inquiries into the actions that took place."
Ms Hall then said: "Absolutely. Just to clarify, the words I’ve just read were in relation to the protests on September 7, when 893 Palestine Action supporters were arrested, and 17 officers were assaulted.
"Where is the condemnation of the protesters’ actions in this case?"
The Metropolitan Police reported 890 individuals detained during the September 7 demonstration opposing Palestine Action's prohibition in the capital.
Most faced charges under terrorism legislation for backing the banned organisation, whilst authorities stated 17 additional arrests occurred following alleged attacks on officers when the gathering became aggressive.
The Deputy Mayor mistakenly condemned violence at a Palestine Action protest
|X/SUSAN HALL
Protest coordinators disputed these accounts, maintaining participants were engaging in non-violent resistance against the ban.
They challenged the Met's assertions about violent incidents as unfounded.
Police figures showed 857 detentions related to expressing solidarity with Palestine Action, with 33 arrested on different charges.
The arrest total exceeded initial reports of 425 from the day of the demonstration.
Law enforcement officials maintained that multiple officers required medical attention following physical confrontations during the event.
The Government classified Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation in July, establishing criminal penalties of up to 14 years imprisonment for membership or support activities.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, visited the Metropolitan Police control centre at the time and stated: "Supporting Palestine and supporting a proscribed terrorist group are not the same thing."
The Home Secretary described witnessing the police operation as "an honour" on social media.