Remembrance Day LIVE — Met Police make arrests in London as counter protesters clash with cops
TENSIONS rose in London as isolated clashes occurred between counter-protesters and the police.
Chaotic scenes saw masked protestors with Union Jacks chant "England till I die" as isolated scuffles took place ahead of the two-minute silence this morning.
The Metropolitan Police have now 82 arrests have been made with one person being arrested after a "baton was found in their possession".
In addition to this, about 150 individuals were detained from a separate group of demonstrators during a protest mentioning Palestinian territories on Grosvenor Place, per the .
Pro-Palestine protestors have also taken to the streets of London just hours after today's Remembrance services in London.
Over 2,000 police officers will take to the streets this weekend to prevent any Remembrance Day services being disrupted as the nation honours those who fought for our freedoms.
Follow our live blog below for the latest news and updates...
The meaning of Lest We Forget
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, the literal translation of the phrase ‘’Lest We Forget’’ is ‘’it should not be forgotten’’.
As mentioned above, it is commonly heard during Remembrance Day when commemorations take place across the UK with thousands of wreaths laid at war memorials to honour the fallen and the sacrifices they made.
Along with wreath laying at War memorials, around the country, a two-minute silence is observed.
The phrase was coined more than a decade before the end of World War 1.
‘’Lest We Forget’’ is often inscribed on war memorials and graves.
You may also see the simple quote written on poppy pin badges and other remembrance-related items.
Far-right groups in altercations with police
Frenzied skirmishes during pro-Palestine countermarches on Saturday resulted in dozens of arrests as far-right supporters engaged in violent altercations with police.
During a Saturday afternoon Remembrance ceremony at the Cenotaph, counter-demonstrators assaulted cops attempting to control crowds, throwing missiles and a metal crowd-control barrier at them.
Additionally, during previous altercations in Chinatown where Tommy Robinson, the founder of the English Defence League, was spotted leading a group of far-right extremists, a man was detained on suspicion of carrying a firearm.
Over 2,000 officers drafted for protests
The Met that 1,850 policemen were on duty on Saturday and 1,375 will be on Sunday.
This is out of the more than 2,000 police officers who have been called in from other agencies to monitor the protests.
Calls for Home Secretary to resign
The Prime Minister's door was where Layla Moran, a Liberal Democrat MP with family in Gaza, pointed the finger at any disruptions brought on by counter-protesters.
"As the police in central London work to contain the far-right, and everyone starts to blame Suella Braverman," she tweeted, "just remember who chose to not only give her the job but also chose not to sack her.
"Rishi Sunak is as, if not more, responsible for what happens today."
Police 'faced aggression' despite two minutes of silence honored
The Met Police shared on X, formerly Twitter: "While the two minutes' silence was marked respectfully and without incident on Whitehall, officers have faced aggression from counter-protesters who are in the area in significant numbers."
The force declared that it "will use all the powers and tactics available to us to prevent" the counter-demonstrators from approaching the main march, which was demanding an end to Israel's conflict with the terrorist organization Hamas.
Later, after disturbances at Westminster Tube station, a "large group" was taken into custody and there were more skirmishes in Chinatown when missiles were hurled at police.
Group of 150 detained
The Metropolitan Police : "Officers have detained a breakaway group of around 150 people from the pro-Palestinian demonstration in Grosvenor Place.
"The group were firing fireworks and many are wearing face coverings. Officers are using their Section 60 and 60AA powers to detain and search those involved."
What to know about Remembrance Day, continued
France has designated this date as a national holiday, and many other Allies have followed suit.
The name of the holiday was originally Armistice Day, but many Western nations and their allies have since altered it.
The US government chose Veterans Day, while Commonwealth of Nations members have chosen Remembrance Day.
Armistice Day falls as a public holiday in certain nations.
What to know about Remembrance Day
Every year on November 11th, Remembrance Day is observed to honor the armistice that was signed at 5:45am in Compiègne, France, between Germany and the Allies during World War I for the armistice that ended hostilities on the Western Front of World War I at 11:00am, or the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918.
However, as an intelligence officer with the U.S. First Division named Thomas R. Gowenlock noted, shelling from both sides persisted throughout the day, coming to an end only at dusk.
The armistice needed to be repeatedly extended when it first ended after 36 days.
It wasn't until the Treaty of Versailles was signed the following year that a formal peace deal was achieved.
Exclusion zone implemented near Cenotaph for protection
Although the march was not supposed to pass close to the Cenotaph, Whitehall and the surrounding areas were off-limits, and the monument would have a special police presence for the whole day until Sunday's Remembrance activities.
Officers have the authority to remove facial coverings and search anybody inside a defined area for weapons under additional protest powers.
Important major London areas, such as Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, are under a dispersion zone.
Preventing confrontations between protestors and counter-protesters was one of the Met's main priorities.
The change Armistice Day to Remembrance Day explained
It was decided to change Armistice Day to Remembrance Day.
Armistice Day refers to the soldiers lost in World War 1, however, all soldiers who lost their lives in any war at any time should be remembered.
That is why it was changed to Remembrance Day.
Speeches have ended
The Met has posted another update about the speeches at the pro-Palestinian march.
'She must resign'
SNP Leader Humza Yousaf has also called for Suella Braverman's resignation on X, accusing her of "fanning the flames of division."
The First Minister released a video showing police and so-called counter-protesters battling in central London.
"The far-right has been emboldened by the Home Secretary," he tweeted. "She has spent her week fanning the flames of division.
"They are now attacking the Police on Armistice Day.
"The Home Secretary's position is untenable. She must resign."
Notices being handed out at Waterloo
The BTP has shared another update about the goings-on at Waterloo Station.
BTP 'aware of a sit-in at Waterloo Station'
The British Transport Police has shared an update about a sit-in at Waterloo Station.
In an update on Twitter, it : "Our officers are informing them of the prohibition order in place under Section 14a of the Public Order Act, and advising them to leave."
The BTP also added a map that shows what areas the prohibition covers.
BTP keeping an eye out for protests
In a to its Twitter, the British Transport Police shared that it is "aware" of the march in Glasgow that "briefly entered Glasgow Central Station.
"Officers continue to patrol and are reporting no disruption. Our priority remains keeping the public safe on the rail network."
Supporters of Home Secretary say she 'was right'
Suella Braverman's supporters have said that she was correct to condemn the police for the protestors unfairly.
Pro-Palestine demonstrators who marched through Central London with the slogan "from the river to the sea, Palestinians shall be free" incited outrage, per .
Met searches for individuals with 'terror group Hamas-style headbands'
Two people were observed attending today's pro-Palestine demonstrations while wearing "Hamas-style" headbans.
In response, the Met : "Officers are actively looking for these individuals and will take proactive action when they are identified."
Another update from the Met
In another to X, formerly known as Twitter, the Met shared an update on the happenings of the protest.
They wrote: "There is a remembrance event underway at the Cenotaph. Officers have prevented those not involved in getting onto Whitehall so it can take place without disruption, as we committed.
"They have faced unacceptable violence, including people throwing missiles and a metal barrier.
"Anyone genuinely wishing to observe the event could do so from behind barriers on the pavement which is open along one entire side of Whitehall. Officers’ efforts are on keeping the road itself clear around the Cenotaph.
Matt Twist shares update, part two
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist's continues: "There are a number of groups within this counter-protest who are split off and seem intent on seeking confrontation with the main Palestinian march and the policing operation at the moment is being effective in preventing that happening.
"The main Palestinian march formed up as intended at 12:00 and has moved off at 12:45. It's moving along the prescribed route and there are tens of thousands of people.
"This is the biggest march we've seen in this phase and at the moment there are no issues with it. It's being closely monitored by police. And we also have police looking out for any troublemakers that might be intent on causing disruption or seeking a confrontation with people on that main march."
Matt Twist shares update: 'It's being closely monitored by police'
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist has shared an update on the events of the protest.
The Met posted a on its Twitter account of Twist saying: "So today, at the moment, we're dealing with two things: we're dealing with a counter-protest and we're dealing with the main Palestinian march.
"The counter-protest arrived earlier this morning just after nine o'clock and groups of several hundreds arrived and seemed intent on confrontation and intent on violence.
"We've seen a number of arrests made. We've had arrests for possession of a knife, possession of a baton, possession of Class A drugs, and assault on an emergency worker."
2 minutes of silence honoured
The altercation that ended in 82 arrests took place just before the two-minute quiet observed on Armistice Day when hundreds of people gathered at the Cenotaph to remember the war dead of the United Kingdom at 11 am.
The service proceeded without any problems.
The English Defence League's founder, Tommy Robinson (Stephen Yaxley-Lennon), has issued a call for his supporters to gather in the nation's capital.
Calvin Robinson, the former host of GB News, was also present in the audience.
Detainees were 'part of a large group of counter protestors'
82 individuals have been taken into custody in Pimlico, central London, according to the Metropolitan Police, "to prevent a breach of the peace."
The people in custody were "part of a large group of counter-protestors we have been monitoring who have tried to reach the main protest march"," according to the force.
It follows heated events when a sizable crowd was observed chanting "England 'til I die" as they walked along the Embankment while waving St. George's flags.
82 protesters arrested after mob hurls missiles at cops
Police have confirmed that 82 protesters have been arrested after chaos erupted near London's Cenotaph today as missile-hurling yobs clashed with cops.
Chaotic footage showed protesters being shoved by police as the two groups came head to head.
Officers could be seen with batons in hand as they tried to control the crowds of counter-protesters who moved from Whitehall through to Chinatown.
Clashes again unfolded by Westminster Station, with footage showing swarms of crowds screaming at police.
Cops then separated the yobs from the group and could be seen holding them away from the crowds.
Pro-Palestine protests arrive in Vauxhall
Pro-Palestine protests have now arrived in Vauxhall.
Earlier over 10 riot vans were seen driving down Grosvenor Road as the march progressed towards the Thames.
Where have protesters clashed with police?
The counter-protests had been organised amid fears pro-Palestine marches would interrupt Remembrance services but fights broke out as cops tried to maintain a ring of steel around the Cenotaph.
While police had doubled their numbers in the capital ahead of fears of violence, they struggled to maintain their staunch guard around the memorial - as chants of "England till I die" and "Let us through" echoed through the streets.
Bottles were seen being thrown at cops by yobs as the isolated scuffles unfolded.
