{"id":223597,"date":"2020-12-20T09:02:14","date_gmt":"2020-12-20T09:02:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=223597"},"modified":"2020-12-23T08:53:03","modified_gmt":"2020-12-23T08:53:03","slug":"anti-lockdown-protestors-clash-with-police-after-ignoring-ban-on-gatherings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thetruthseeker.co.uk\/?p=223597","title":{"rendered":"Anti-lockdown protestors clash with police after ignoring ban on gatherings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tom Williams \u2013 Metro.co.uk Dec 19, 2020<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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Police arrest an anti-lockdown protester in central London, Saturday. Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n

Five police officers have been injured and 29 people arrested as anti-lockdown protestors clashed with police in central London.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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Protester with placard in Parliament Square. Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n

But there were ugly scenes as officers attempted to control the crowds and several protestors were led away into police vans.<\/p>\n

There were several clashes between officers and unmasked demonstrators, who chanted \u2018we demand freedom\u2019.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m going to keep doing this until we\u2019re free,\u2019 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 \u2013 the toughest in the UK.<\/p>\n

Protestors, many of whom weren\u2019t wearing masks, marched through the centre of London carrying placards that said things like \u2018Why vaccinate for something 99% of people beat\u2019 and \u2018It\u2019s not about a virus, it\u2019s about control.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Metropolitan Police account later tweeted: \u2018We arrested 29 people today following demonstrations across the city. \u2018Unacceptably five of our officers were injured \u2013 thankfully their injuries are not serious.\u2019<\/p>\n

Before the demonstration began, Scotland Yard issued an open letter urging people not to attend.<\/p>\n

The force said extra officers will be on London\u2019s streets to encourage compliance with strict regulations and to \u2018swiftly clamp down on those wilfully and dangerously ignoring them\u2019.<\/p>\n

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Protest march in Newcastle. Click to enlarge<\/p><\/div>\n

Other protests took place in UK cities across the country but the one in London was the largest.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Continues \u2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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