Tensions ran high on Sunday in east London as an anti-immigration demonstration escalated into mayhem, with one police officer attacked and four people taken into custody.
Protest Turns Confrontational
The Metropolitan Police indicated the protest, which had started outside the Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf, initially marched peacefully along Manchester Road and Westferry Road on the Isle of Dogs. The officers, however, said a minority group of masked protesters became hostile towards the public as well as the police. Demonstrators broke into the Canary Wharf shopping centre around 4:30 pm and caused further disruption.
Police quickly deployed a Section 60AA order to stop protesters wearing masks to conceal their identity. A Section 35 dispersal order was also given, instructing the crowd to disperse from the area.
Officer Assaulted, Arrests Made
Police authorities confirmed that there were arrests for a number of offenses, such as assault on an officer, common assault of a member of the public, possession of class A and B drugs, public order offenses, and failure to disperse. An officer was punched in the face but did not incur serious injury, police said.
The demonstration attracted between 50 and 100 individuals, lots of them waving union flags and marching with anti-immigration banners. Meanwhile, around 100 counter-demonstrators assembled with “Stand Up to Racism” and “Stop the Far Right” banners, chanting together: “Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.”
Police Vow Stronger Response
Commander Adam Slonecki, overseeing the weekend policing operation, condemned the violence and stressed that those attending protests masked and intent on trouble would face a firm response.
These afternoon we have unhappily witnessed more disruption, following yesterday’s five arrests in the West Drayton area,” he said. “Today’s demonstration involved numerous community members attending, including women and children, and we did our best to maintain the safety of those attending to be able to represent their opinions peacefully.”
Police continued to patrol the area into the night to discourage further trouble and reassure locals and businesses.
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A Bigger Tension
The event showed increasing tensions in London regarding immigration and counter-demonstrations against the far-right. Although most of them protested peacefully, the clashes highlighted issues faced by police in controlling politically charged demonstrations.
