Arrests began at a London pro-Palestine protest that defied calls from politicians and police to reconsider after the Manchester terror attack. In Trafalgar Square, officers detained protesters displaying placards in support of Palestine Action. At Westminster Bridge, a banner backing the proscribed group was unfurled. Organisers Defend Our Juries said more than a thousand people gathered for a silent vigil and to read out the names of Palestinian children killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict. A vicar, seated with eyes closed and holding a poster, was among those arrested, and two elderly men were carried away by officers.

The Met said the square was busy, with many attendees observing or supporting but not bearing placards. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had urged protesters to recognise the grief of British Jews and avoid fuelling tensions after Thursday’s attack. Separately, Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine was staging a similar event outside Manchester Cathedral, while counter-protesters in Manchester carried a banner opposing Hamas.

Human rights campaigner Sir Jonathon Porritt defended the right to protest while emphasising the need to respect mourning. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the Trafalgar Square gathering risked diverting police resources away from protecting communities. Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson urged attendees to consider whether now is the right time. Police said extra officers had been deployed to synagogues and Jewish buildings in the wake of the attack. The Prime Minister wrote in The Jewish Chronicle and The Jewish News urging people to recognise the grief of British Jews this week.