London police say they arrested 10 people as they interrupted a protest of thousands.
London, United Kingdom:
London police say they have arrested 10 people and four police officers were injured as they interrupted a demonstration by thousands against Britain’s coronavirus restrictions on Saturday.
Skirmishes erupted as officers moved with batons to disperse the more than 10,000 protesters gathered in the center of Trafalgar Square, who were not following infection control measures, Metropolitan Police said on Twitter.
“Unfortunately, four of our officers were injured, two need to be hospitalized,” the Met wrote.
A dozen policemen were injured in a similar protest last week.
Among Saturday’s crowd was David Icke, a prominent conspiracy theorist who has drawn attention in the past by suggesting that the world is secretly ruled by reptilian humanoids, including the British royal family.
Some people in the crowd were carrying placards opposing any potential coronavirus vaccine.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday pledged new support for the World Health Organization’s efforts to develop a vaccine and called those who rejected a possible inoculation “crazy.”
Local infection control restrictions now extend to one in four people in Britain in a bid to contain a growing second wave of the virus, which has so far claimed 42,000 lives in the country – the highest toll from Europe.
This week, the Johnson government banned gatherings of more than six people and ordered pubs and restaurants to close at 10 p.m. in a bid to slow the spread.
