Piers Corbyn among 10 charged after Palestine protest as row erupts over policing

-Credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
-Credit:Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire


Piers Corbyn is among 10 people who have been charged following a protest in Central London this weekend, as a row breaks out over the policing of it. The fringe activist, one-time Mayor of London hopeful, and the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's brother, is accused of public order offences and is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court in the coming days, police say.

The 77-year-old, of East Street in Southwark, was among hundreds of demonstrators who took to the streets during the planned Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) protest. Ten people have been charged with public order offences .

Saturday’s Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) protest was adjusted to be a static rally after police curtailed organisers’ plans for a march past the BBC and near a synagogue, and conditions were put in place that prevented people involved from entering specific areas.

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It is alleged some attendees breached Public Order Act conditions. After more than 70 arrests on Saturday afternoon, a Scotland Yard spokesperson said there was "a coordinated effort to breach these conditions", despite the PSC agreeing to a static protest.

Protesters up against the police line whilst taking part in a national march for Palestine on Whitehall -Credit:Jeff Moore/PA Wire
Protesters up against the police line whilst taking part in a national march for Palestine on Whitehall -Credit:Jeff Moore/PA Wire

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.

“I’d like to thank officers for their professional response, including those from other forces across the country who assisted. Thankfully no officers were injured during the protest, however three were spat at and one was physically assaulted. They are receiving appropriate support.”

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But the Palestine Solidarity Campaign hit back at the Met on Sunday morning (January 19), accusing Scotland Yard of promoting a 'misleading narrative' about events on Saturday. It also alleged marchers were met with 'extremely heavy-handed and aggressive policing', and claimed people were arrested 'without warning' and on 'flimsy pretexts'.

A PSC spokesperson added: "This is a direct assault on freedom of assembly and democracy. The police’s actions, including their false statements after the event, are deeply troubling. We demand the immediate release of all those arrested and remain resolute in our campaign for freedom and justice for the Palestinian people."

Three protesters from Youth Demand were also among those arrested after standing outside the BBC headquarters on Portland Place holding signs saying 'Can I protest here?' and one that was completely blank. On Saturday evening, a spokesperson for the group, which is calling for an arms embargo on Israel, said its supporters had 'defied' the Met's restrictions on the PSC.

The Metropolitan Police announced on Saturday that 77 people had been arrested – the highest number across more than 20 national PSC protests since October 2023. Some 65 people had been detained for a breach of conditions, five for public order offences, two for obstructing police, one for supporting a proscribed organisation, one for inciting racial hatred, one for common assault, one for assault on an emergency worker and one for sexual assault. The force said on Sunday that 24 people have been bailed and 48 remain in custody.

  • Angela Zelter, 73, of Heyton in Powes

  • Tessa Roe-Stanton, 20, of Breakspears Road in Brockley

  • Monday Rosenfeld, 21, of Rhodeswell Road in Stepney

  • Starr Thomas, 20, of Breakspears Road in Brockley

  • Colin Weedon, 78, of Richborne Terrace in Oval

  • Christian Adair, 23, of Adelaide Avenue in Ladywell

  • Matthew Brennan, 44, of Church Road, St George in Bristol

  • David Ok, 40, of Teighnmouth Road in Willesden Green

  • Piers Corbyn, 77, of East Street in Walworth

  • Christopher Nineham, 62, of Daling Way in Bow

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READ MORE: 10 powerful images from pro-Palestine rally as thousands stopped from marching past BBC

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