Lockdown protestors scuffle with cops in Westminster leaving officers ‘injured’ as anti-vax demonstration turns violent
VIOLENCE has erupted outside Downing Street tonight as thousands of protesters march in Whitehall.
London cops have reportedly suffered minor injuries as anti-lockdown campaigners waving banners gathered in Westminster.
Gangs of people are now standing outside the PM’s home. Some have torn away barriers, while others were seen making threatening gestures at PCs in riot gear.
Earlier today, one demonstrator dressed as Santa waved a smoke canister over the crowds, while others held aloft signs reading ‘no vaccine passports‘.
Boris Johnson last night vowed not to lock the country down again amid claims he’s mulling a two-week circuit-breaker after Christmas.
If the proposals get the green light, Brits could be banned from mixing indoors with friends and family, it’s reported.
The PM has told eligible adults to get their booster jabs as soon as they can, after long snaking queues were seen at vaccine centres across the country.
The Sun is also urging readers to sign up to the Jabs Army campaign to make the rollout as smooth and fast as possible.
But in spite of promising the nation that he is not “closing things down”, and instead will focus on dishing out the third jab to beat Omicron, demonstrators rallied in London this afternoon.
It comes as:
- The UK’s daily Covid case tally spiralled past 90,000 again
- An Omicron explosion has hit 89 countries around the world
- A major pub chain has closed its busiest boozers ‘indefinitely’ amid surging cases
- The number of Brits having the booster has doubled in a week
- An expert has warned a test from yesterday is “not enough” to know if you have Covid any more
Met Police officers were injured while trying to escort a police motorcyclist through Parliament Square.
Beer cans, eggs and flares were thrown during the incident, it’s reported.
Video footage of the incident shows protesters shouting at cops.
Later in the afternoon, another crowd hurled eggs at a property in Regent Street.
Unmasked campaigners who joined the Together Declaration march were heard screaming “shame on you” and “freedom” as they walked.
No arrests have been made.
COPS HURT
Those who have attended the rally are opposed to the current Plan B restrictions, as well as any future proposals for Plan C.
Organisers said: “We are gravely concerned about where the introduction of vaccine passports could lead.”
It comes as record numbers of new infections were recorded in the UK this week as Omicron spreads.
London mayor Sadiq Khan has declared a major incident in the capital amid surging cases.
The Labour politician said he’s “incredibly concerned” – and fears a shortage of police officers, firefighters and NHS workers.
There have been 65,525 new cases confirmed in London in the past seven days, with 26,418 cases reported the last 24 hours – the highest figure since the start of the pandemic.
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And over the week, the number of Covid patients in the capital’s hospitals has risen by 29 per cent.
The UK’s overall number of Omicron cases reported each day has trebled in the past 24 hours, with cases rising by more than 10,000.
Seven people have now died of the mutation.
The PM is standing firm on no lockdown before Christmas.
However, it’s believed he briefed his Cabinet today on the possibility of firmer restrictions after December 25.
He said a “considerable wave” of cases is sweeping in – but stood firm on tougher rules this side of Christmas.
“I’ve said already that people should be cautious, but what we have also said is that people should decide what they want to do. It is a matter for their personal choice,” he said.
“We are not closing things down but we do think people need to be cautious.”
