Jeremy Corbyn interviewed by police after pro-Palestine rally, Sky News understands
Jeremy Corbyn has agreed to be interviewed under caution by police following a pro-Palestinian rally in central London, Sky News understands.
The former Labour leader, 75, voluntarily attended a police station in the capital this afternoon.
The BBC reports that John McDonnell, 73, who was the shadow chancellor during Mr Corbyn’s leadership, also agreed to be voluntarily interviewed.
Sky News saw the pair leaving Charing Cross Police station this afternoon. They declined to comment when approached.
Nine other people have been charged with public order offences following arrests at the protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) on Saturday.
The Met said they witnessed a “deliberate effort, including by protest organisers” to breach conditions that had been imposed on the event.
This has been denied by the PSC, who have accused the Met of heavy-handed tactics.
The protest came as Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal following the 15-month-long war in Gaza.
Police said the organisers had agreed the protest would be static, to prevent crowds forming in the vicinity of a synagogue located a short distance from the BBC’s headquarters near Portland Place.
In a statement on Sunday, the Met said those who have been charged with breaching the conditions, which includes Mr Corbyn’s brother Piers, are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in the coming days.
It added that three men had agreed to attend voluntarily at a Central London Police Station today to be interviewed under caution.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn listen to Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivering his Budget in the House of Commons, London.
Giving only their ages, the Met said: “The 75-year-old, 73-year-old, and 61-year-old will be interviewed by officers this afternoon”.
Commander Adam Slonecki, who led the policing operation, said: “Yesterday we saw a deliberate effort, including by protest organisers, to breach conditions and attempt to march out of Whitehall.
“This was a serious escalation in criminality and one which we are taking incredibly seriously. Officers have worked around the clock to pursue those involved.
“We will continue to work through CCTV footage, videos from social media and our body-worn cameras so we can make further arrests and bring forward charges where we identify criminality.”
However, the PSC has accused the Met of promoting “a misleading narrative about the events” in “claiming that a peaceful delegation pushed through police lines”.
The PSC said that after the Met banned their march to the BBC, they made clear they intended to protest against that “anti-democratic” decision if the restrictions were not lifted, by walking “silently and peacefully” towards the broadcaster’s offices.
They claimed that when they reached the police line, they were invited to continue walking towards Trafalgar Square.
Mr Corbyn and Mr McDonnell also disputed the police version of events.
In response to a police social media post claiming protesters “forced their way through” police lines, Mr Corbyn wrote: “This is not an accurate description of events at all.
“I was part of a delegation of speakers, who wished to peacefully carry and lay flowers in memory of children in Gaza who had been killed.”
“This was facilitated by the police. We did not force our way through.”
This was echoed by Mr Mcdonnell who said: “I spoke at demo & was part of a procession of speakers aiming to go to BBC to lay flowers commemorating the death of Palestinian children. We did not force our way thru, the police allowed us to go thru & when stopped in Trafalgar Square we laid our flowers down & dispersed.”
Mr Corbyn now sits as the independent MP for Islington North after successfully running against his former party at the general election, following his suspension over an antisemitism row.
Mr McDonnell currently sits as an independent, having lost the whip for six months in July last year for voting against the government over the child benefit cap.
UK
Three Iranians charged under National Security Act after investigation by UK counter-terror police
Two firefighters and a member of the public have died in a large fire in Bicester, the fire service announced.
The firefighters died in the inferno at a former RAF base in Oxfordshire, which now hosts historic motoring and aviation centre Bicester Motion.
The local fire service was called to the scene at 6.39pm last night.
Chief Fire Officer Rob MacDougall said: “It is with a very heavy heart that we today report the loss of two of our firefighters. Families have been informed and are being supported.
“Our thoughts are with them at this most difficult of times and we ask for privacy to be respected.
“We cannot release any details at present but will provide further information as soon as we can.”
Two other firefighters sustained serious injuries and are currently being treated in hospital, Oxfordshire County Council said in a statement.
Footage shared on social media shows plumes of smoke billowing into the sky and flames swallowing the large building.
Clouds of smoke from the fire were billowing into the sky last night. Pic:@kajer87X
Two firefighters and one other person died in the fire, while two more firefighters were seriously injured. Pic: PA
Ten fire crews attended the incident, with four remaining at the scene. The fire is still ongoing, but it is considered under control.
Local residents were advised to remain indoors and keep their windows shut, but this advice has now been lifted.
Bicester Motion said in a statement it would be closed today and over the weekend.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
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