Supporters of protest group Youth Demand have been arrested in central London after police accused them of planning to disrupt the UK's State Opening of Parliament.
The Metropolitan Police said 10 activists were arrested in Westminster on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance on Wednesday morning.
There’s a significant policing presence in central London ahead of the State Opening of Parliament.
Last week, Youth Demand said they planned to disrupt the event.
An hour ago, officers arrested 10 of them in Westminster on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
A… pic.twitter.com/tHowsvNZni— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 17, 2024
Further arrests were taking place in Victoria Embankment Gardens where up to 25 more demonstrators had gathered.
This followed a protest by the group, which is calling for action on climate change as well as an end to the sale of UK weapons to Israel, near the Cenotaph on Monday.
Youth Demand announced on X, formerly Twitter, last week that it planned to disrupt the State Opening of Parliament.
🚨 BREAKING: YOUTH DEMAND LAY PALESTINE FLAG & PAINT NEXT TO CENOTAPH
Never again means never again. Everything that the cenotaph stands for is contrary to the Labour government allowing companies to profit from genocide.
Help us take action ->https://t.co/Fyk6gk3Y3j pic.twitter.com/zrGYH1pccw— Youth Demand (@youth_demand) July 15, 2024
In the first of a series of entries, the group said: “Keir Starmer has called for a ceasefire. But we need actions, not words.
“That’s why Youth Demand will disrupt the State Opening of Parliament.”
It went on to say: “We disrupt because it is our duty to fight back in every way we non-violently can, and because we refuse to despair, but instead are full of hope that another way is possible.”
