Daily Mail
· collected 2026-10-11 · by Nicholas Pyke, Sophie Carlin, Lydia Veljanovski
During a pro-Palestine march in London, far-left protesters clashed with police and desecrated the Battle of Britain Monument. About 7,000 to 10,000 people participated, with some climbing onto the memorial, kicking over poppies, and chanting insults at law enforcement. The Metropolitan Police made 20 arrests, including six for suspected criminal damage. This occurred days after the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attacks in Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israeli civilians and the capture of 251 hostages.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Saturday, in London, thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered on the Embankment to march towards Parliament, marking three years since Hamas's October 7 attacks. The protest, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, drew around 7,000 to 10,000 people, many wearing keffiyehs and carrying placards that read "End the genocide" and "Free Palestine." Protesters demanded an end to arms supplies from the UK to Israel and called for full sanctions on Israel.
The Metropolitan Police imposed conditions to minimize disruptions, warning protesters they could be arrested if they refused to remove face masks. Several arrests were made, including individuals suspected of criminal damage after climbing onto the Battle of Britain memorial in Victoria Embankment.
A counter-protest by Stop The Hate also took place with about 30 people gathered outside New Scotland Yard. Clashes between pro-Palestine protesters and police occurred, leading to arrests on suspicion of causing criminal damage at the Battle of Britain memorial.
Demonstrators chanted slogans like "F* the police," and some used loudspeakers to broadcast messages echoing recent student riots in France, including "tout le monde deteste la police" (everyone hates the police). The march was marked by scuffles with police and acts of vandalism at war memorials. Despite these incidents, many protesters remained peaceful, holding two-minute silences for lives lost in Gaza. The event drew international attention, with similar protests reported across Europe. Aimee Shalan, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, highlighted ongoing issues in Gaza and called for full sanctions on Israel. UN figures indicate that 230 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces and settlers in the West Bank last year alone. The protest emphasized the need for an end to the conflict and support for Palestinian rights. Husam Zomlot**, a senior advisor to the Palestine Liberation Organization, provided context, underscoring the urgency of addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. Despite these calls, tensions between protesters and law enforcement remained high throughout the day.
Written for “Pro Palestine Protest London” on 2026-10-11,
grounded in this article and the 7 other(s) covering the same event.
Far-Left thugs fought police, trampled poppies and desecrated London's Battle of Britain Monument as yesterday's pro-Palestine march descended into violence.
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march → fight → violence
Agitators climbed on top of the memorial – erected to commemorate the defence of Britain in the early days of the Second World War – and chanted, 'f*** the police'.
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Agitators → climb → police
A display of poppy wreaths was kicked apart by the protesters, many from the Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP), and several people were arrested, including some on suspicion of causing criminal damage.
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people → kick → damage
Yesterday's protest comes just days after the third anniversary of Hamas's October 7 attacks – in which 1,200 Israeli civilians were murdered and a further 251 taken hostage.
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251 → come → hostage
The pro-Israel Stop The Hate group staged a counter demonstration along the route.
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group → stag → route
The trouble started when officers from the Metropolitan Police attempted to arrest people wearing face masks on Victoria Embankment, with a group of RCP supporters scuffling to hold the officers back.
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group → start → officers
As tempers flared the police detained two protesters on the ground, only for more activists to surround the officers, who drew their batons.
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who → flare → batons
One group of protesters climbed to the top of the monument and spent half an hour banging on the stone-and-bronze structure while they chanted vile insults at the police.
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they → climb → police
Some held signs saying: 'For Palestine to live, imperialism must die.'
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imperialism → hold → signs
Dozens more activists stood at the base, baying 'scum, scum, scum' at the officers attempting to control the crowds.
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activists → stand → crowds
Scuffles between pro-Palestine protesters and police broke out as thousands marched through central London, days after the third anniversary of October 7
The scene at the Battle of Britain memorial in central London, where some protestors were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after they climbed onto it
Demonstrators holding Revolutionary Communist Party (RCP) flags climbed on the Battle of Britain memorial during a march to protest the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza
Police had to fight to maintain a protective barrier after pulling several protesters from the crowd
People waved Palestinian flags and banners and chanted as they moved along the streets
Between 7,000 and 10,000 protestors were expected to attend the pro-Palestine march, with shouts from the crowd including 'f*** the police'
Others blasted sirens through loudspeakers and shouted 'tout le monde deteste la police' (everyone hates the police) – a rallying cry from the recent student riots in France which have seen dozens of officers injured.
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dozens → break → officers
The Met arrested 20 people, including a man and a woman said to have been carrying placards supporting the proscribed Palestine Action group.
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Met → arrest → group
Six people were detained on suspicion of criminal damage.
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people → detain → damage
When one man was asked, 'What have you been arrested for?', he replied, 'I punched him [a policeman] in the face.'
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I → ask → face
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, whose father was a Battle of Britain Spitfire ace, told The Mail on Sunday: 'People who stamp on the memory of the heroes of the past are not fit to be in Britain.
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who → tell → Britain
The very freedoms they now use to protest, all those freedoms they have now would not exist were it not for those heroes.'
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it → use → heroes
Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy said: 'There is no word for these people but 'scum'.
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Timothy → say → scum
'
Clearing up the ruined poppies in the aftermath, Steve Chilcott, 57, said: 'I think this is disgusting.
'
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this → clear → aftermath
To see crowds with Communist flags climbing all over it and shouting and screaming is sickening.
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crowds → see → it
'It's a huge lack of respect to Britain and our parents and grandparents who fought for freedom they are now enjoying.'
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they → fight → freedom
The display of poppies at its base included wreaths laid by members of the Battle of Britain Fighter Association to mark last month's anniversary of the famous air battle – a crucial victory in the skies above Kent and London.
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display → include → Kent
The demonstration was organised by the Palestine Coalition umbrella group to mark what it calls 'three years of genocide' in Gaza.
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it → organise → Gaza
Last night it claimed that 250,000 protesters had taken to the streets.
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protesters → claim → streets
There were no official figures when the MoS went to press, but the Met had earlier been expecting no more than 10,000.
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Met → be → 10,000
A Royal British Legion spokesman said: 'War memorials and wreaths honour the memory of every member of the Armed Forces who has made the ultimate sacrifice, and deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.'
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who → say → respect
The Aporia
