Trade unionists and protesters form a blockade outside weapons manufacturer BAE Systems in Rochester, Kent, in protest over the Israel-Gaza conflict and calling for an immediate ceasefire to halt the killing of civilians in Palestine.
Metropolitan Police officers have begun a 24-hour guard at the Cenotaph as 1,850 officers are mobilised to control hundreds of thousands of protesters pouring into London for a major pro-Palestinian march on Armistice Day.
Meanwhile, the Met is deploying specialist traffic officers to police convoys of cars bringing protesters into the capital. Previous events have been marred by demonstrators driving through Jewish areas while waving flags and shouting anti-Semitic abuse. A dispersal zone will be in place covering key central London locations including Trafalgar Square and Piccadilly Circus. Anyone refusing to disperse can be arrested, the Met said
John Rees, from the group, said the protest in London will be 'truly historic', exceeding the half a million he believes joined a previous protest in the capital. READ MORE - Demonstrators blockade weapons manufacturer BAE Systems site in protest over Israel-Hamas war Advertisement It is being held on the same day that a two-minute silence will take place at the Cenotaph.
Sir Mark said organisers of Saturday's march had shown 'complete willingness to stay away from the Cenotaph and Whitehall and have no intention of disrupting the nation's remembrance events'. 'It's not for us to get involved in debates about whether or not it's appropriate to hold a protest,' he told a briefing with journalists.
'We've been really clear that policing is operationally independent. In public order policing we will always try to use the lowest level of force to achieve an aim - sometimes that could be quite a high level of force.' DAC Taylor said this was the first time there had been a 24-hour guard around the Cenotaph for 'this length of time'. This was in response to the attack on the Cenotaph in Rochdale just days before Armistice Day which sparked outrage.
Police guarding the Cenotaph this morning. The Met has vowed to 'protect locations and events of national importance at all costs' Home Secretary Suella Braverman has controversially accused the police of 'playing favourites' with protesters by clamping down hard on Right-wing demonstrations while taking a softly-softly approach to those organised by groups on the Left.
Mr Stephens said: 'In policing we need the space to make difficult operational decisions in an independent manner. Officers said they will be on hand to monitor the intimidation of 'generous' poppy sellers after concerns were raised over their safety in the last week. When asked about tomorrow's pro-Palestine protest, she said: 'I do hope for everybody's sake, and all concerned, everything passes peacefully. Also, for the Royals'.
Paul Youngman, 64, who served 37 years in the Royal Navy and will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph tomorrow said: 'The memorial at platform one is for the GWR staff that worked during the wars. But over the years, everybody that's involved in Rememberance Weekend will travel over to this memorial for this service.
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