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Tom Williams – Metro.co.uk Dec 19, 2020

Police arrest an anti-lockdown protester in central London, Saturday. Click to enlarge

Five police officers have been injured and 29 people arrested as anti-lockdown protestors clashed with police in central London.

Hundreds marched on Parliament Square from Oxford Street and Regents Street earlier despite fears that a mutant strain of coronavirus is spreading rapidly around the city.

Police had warned people not to attend large gatherings so close to Christmas and extra officers were deployed to try to ensure social distancing rules were followed.

Protester with placard in Parliament Square. Click to enlarge

But there were ugly scenes as officers attempted to control the crowds and several protestors were led away into police vans.

There were several clashes between officers and unmasked demonstrators, who chanted ‘we demand freedom’.

Andreas Michli, the owner of a gym in Wood Green that refused to shut its door during the second national lockdown, was one of multiple people who has been arrested.

‘I’m going to keep doing this until we’re free,’ he said as he was led to a police van. It came as Boris Johnson announced that several areas of eastern and south-east England would be placed under tier four restrictions – the toughest in the UK.

Protestors, many of whom weren’t wearing masks, marched through the centre of London carrying placards that said things like ‘Why vaccinate for something 99% of people beat’ and ‘It’s not about a virus, it’s about control.’

The Metropolitan Police account later tweeted: ‘We arrested 29 people today following demonstrations across the city. ‘Unacceptably five of our officers were injured – thankfully their injuries are not serious.’

Before the demonstration began, Scotland Yard issued an open letter urging people not to attend.

The force said extra officers will be on London’s streets to encourage compliance with strict regulations and to ‘swiftly clamp down on those wilfully and dangerously ignoring them’.

Protest march in Newcastle. Click to enlarge

Other protests took place in UK cities across the country but the one in London was the largest.

The open letter asked people not to attend any large gathering and warned they may be at risk of committing a criminal offence if they do. Coronavirus laws outlaw gatherings of more than six outdoors, although there is a list of exemptions which includes protests where all relevant safety precautions are in place.

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