Arrests at pro-Palestinian protest in King’s Cross station in London

Five people have been arrested at a pro-Palestinian protest at King’s Cross station in London.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper said he had given an order to allow police to stop the demonstration on Friday evening.

A section 14 notice had been made at the station – one of the busiest in the UK – which meant police could end the protest on the grounds it was disruptive and intimidating to passengers.

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Videos of the event showed crowds chanting “ceasefire now”, “free, free Palestine” and “in our thousands, in our millions, we are all Palestinians” at the protest.

They also appeared to show the controversial slogan “from the river to the sea” being shouted, with demonstrators replying “Palestine will be free”.

One video appeared to show a man draped in a Palestinian flag shouting “free, free Palestine” while being carried away from the station by three officers.

A banner accusing Israel of genocide can also be seen in some clips.

British Transport Police said the five arrested people were detained for failing to comply with the section 14 notice.

The protesters had gathered in the station at 5.30pm and had left by 7.15pm, when a small demonstration took place outside the building, the BTP said.

The force, working with the Metropolitan Police, said it then escorted a group of about 50 protesters away from the area to Euston.

A man was arrested near Euston station on suspicion of common assault, BTP said. Protesters then dispersed from the area, it added.

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The Met Police has promised to crack down on lawbreakers at pro-Palestinian protests, as the prime minister condemned plans for a march on Armistice Day on 11 November as “provocative and disrespectful”.

Rishi Sunak wrote to Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, saying there is “a clear and present risk” that war memorials such as the Cenotaph “could be desecrated”.

Organisers have promised to avoid the Whitehall area, while no march is currently planned for Remembrance Sunday when a high-profile event at the Cenotaph is attended by royals, senior politicians and veterans.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman backed the PM, saying it was “entirely unacceptable to desecrate Armistice Day with a hate march through London”.

Earlier in the week, Ms Braverman branded pro-Palestinian protests as “hate marches”.