Counter protesters arrested at pro-Palestinian march in London

Counter protesters were arrested in London on Saturday during a massive pro-Palestinian rally.

"Officers have arrested 82 people in Tachbrook Street, Pimlico to prevent a breach of the peace," the London Metropolitan police wrote on the social media platform, X.

"They’re part of a large group of counter protestors we have been monitoring who have tried to reach the main protest march," the post continued. "We will continue to take action to avoid the disorder that would likely take place if that happened."

According to reports, around 300,000 demonstrators participated in the march.

The march in London titled the "National March for Palestine" has had multiple scuffles between protesters and counter protesters and encounters with police. 

Ministers had called for the protest to be rescheduled due to it falling on Armistice Day, according to Reuters. 

Some pro-Israel protesters approached the pro-Palestine protesters and said the signs they were carrying were antisemitic.

Police report that counter protesters showed up in "significant numbers," according to Reuters. The authorities had to get riot gear and reportedly had bottles thrown at them.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, blamed the interior minister, Suella Braverman, for emboldening the "far-right" after she reportedly accused police of siding with "pro-Palestine mobs."

"The scenes of disorder we witnessed by the far-right at the Cenotaph are a direct result of the Home Secretary’s words," Khan wrote on X. "The police's job has been made much harder. The Met have my full support to take action against anyone found spreading hate and breaking the law."

Earlier this week, Braverman accused the police force of ignoring lawless behavior by “pro-Palestinian mobs," and referred to the protesters at "hate marchers."