Police patrols are set to be ramped up across London ahead of protests outside the US and Iranian embassies this weekend.
A Stage for Freedom demonstration against the Iranian government will march from Whitehall to Kensington Road near Hyde Park in Knightsbridge, close to where the nation’s embassy is situated, on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, a separate march of groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign will head from Millbank to the United States embassy to call for an end to attacks on Iran.
The Metropolitan Police has imposed conditions requiring protesters to stay on designated routes and finish their post-march rallies by 5pm to prevent ‘serious disruption’ in the capital.
The Middle East has been plunged into chaos after a joint US and Israeli strike on Iran killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday.
In the days since, Tehran and its allies have retaliated across the region, targeting Israel, US bases in neighbouring Gulf states and sites critical to global oil and gas production.
Protesters in support of the Iranian regime and its late Supreme Leader broke out in Birmingham on Thursday night, with activists torching an Israeli flag and chanting ‘death to the IDF’ at a vigil in Birmingham last night.
Dozens of protestors assembled in the city to condemn the US-Israeli strikes on the country and mourn the passing of former ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
A Stage for Freedom demonstration against the Iranian government will march from Whitehall to Kensington Road near Hyde Park in Knightsbridge, close to where the nation’s embassy is situated. Pictured: Protesters outside Parliament on February 28
Meanwhile, a separate march of groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop the War Coalition and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign will head from Millbank to the United States embassy to call for an end to attacks on Iran. Pictured: Protesters outside Parliament on February 28
West Midlands Police told the Daily Mail it has launched an investigation into possible racially/religiously aggravated public order offences.
On Wednesday, a similar vigil took place in Manchester with police again involved after some 800 people turned up in support of and against the regime.
Described as ‘honouring the ayatollah’, who was killed in strikes on Iran on Saturday, attendees burned pictures of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In London, a group of pro-Israel Iranians gathered outside Israel’s embassy in Kensington, west London, on Friday evening.
Pictures emerged online showing a crowd celebrating Israel and the US’s attacks on Iran, waving Israel’s and Iran’s pre-Islamic regime flag.
Ahead of the protest on Saturday, Scotland Yard have banned the use of amplified noise equipment for music or speeches and of instruments at the anti-Iranian government protest to ‘limit the disturbance to people living nearby’.
The force said it has stepped up patrols around ‘key sites’ and in the ‘most affected communities’ in recent days.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said officers will ‘proactively intervene’ where necessary.
He said: ‘It is inevitable that strong feelings will result in protest or other forms of public assembly.
‘The role of the police is not to try limit that freedom of expression, but to ensure that it doesn’t result in disorder and that it doesn’t cause others to be threatened or intimidated.
‘We will ensure that ordinary life in London can still go on without protests being the cause of serious disruption.’
He went on: ‘This intervention may include the imposition of conditions on protests to prevent them from taking place in specified locations to protect members of that community.
‘This may include, for example, preventing anti-Israeli protests taking place in Jewish communities or taking steps to ensure particular communities do not feel harassed by anti-Iran protests taking place where they live.
‘Each protest will be assessed individually.
‘We are in ongoing discussions with key partners across London.
‘We meet regularly with representatives from Muslim and Jewish communities, and in recent weeks we have stepped up our engagement with Iranian groups.’
Meanwhile, CND said there will also be a demonstration at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire from 1pm on Saturday to oppose use of the base by US bombers.
Sir Keir Starmer decided on Sunday that UK bases, including the joint UK-US Diego Garcia site in the Chagos Islands and RAF Fairford, could be used in the conflict, so the US can strike defensively to protect countries being targeted by Tehran.
Gloucestershire Constabulary said it will deploy officers to police the protest.
A US B-1 aircraft was pictured arriving at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on Friday evening, where it is expected to be joined by more stealth bombers, including B-2s and B-52s
It added: ‘We will provide a proportionate and lawful police response to any activity in order to help keep everyone safe, minimise disruption and prevent crime or disorderly behaviour occurring.
‘Gloucestershire Constabulary will seek to facilitate those engaging in peaceful protest in respect of their rights of freedom of expression, assembly and association, whilst balancing the needs and rights of the military base, local communities and the wider public.’
CND general secretary Sophie Bolt said: ‘We demand an end to the illegal bombing of Iran and an end to the escalation.
‘International diplomacy and dialogue has never been more critical. Starmer needs to stand up to Trump and halt Britain’s active military support.
‘He needs to shut down all these US bases that are putting Britain on the front line.’
It comes as MPs and policing experts have led calls to ban an annual march in London in support of the Iranian regime.
The Al Quds demonstration, due to take place on March 15, is intended to express solidarity with Palestinians and opposition to Israel.
But, as the UK draws up plans to send a warship to defend the RAF airbase in Cyprus struck by an Iranian drone, there are renewed calls for Al Quds to be blocked.
Marchers in Britain have previously carried the flags of Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah, and placards calling for the destruction of Israel.
The march is organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) which previously described the late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, as a ‘rare role model’.
Lord Pickles, former UK special envoy for post-Holocaust Issues, said: ‘I am in favour of free speech and reasonable demonstration but (allowing this march to go ahead) is taking the mickey out of the British constitution.
‘Given what is going on in the world, I think it is ridiculous that police resources should be diverted for something like this.’
Labour MP David Taylor added: ‘We cannot allow hundreds of supporters of Iran’s hardline regime to march through London calling for strikes on Israel and death to the West.’
