'This is war': Polish parliament abortion protest

Opposition lawmakers brought protests over a near-total ban on abortion in predominantly-Catholic Poland to the floor of parliament on Tuesday (October 27).

They held up placards with slogans such as 'This is war' and 'Legalise abortion', before walking to the benches where lawmakers from the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party, including PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, were sitting.

The protesting lawmakers began to chant 'this is war' as deputy parliment speaker Ryszard Terlecki called for a break in the session and for security officers to come to the chamber.

Other opposition lawmakers linked arms and tried to stop the parliament security from intervening in the protest.

Before the protest began, Terlecki, who is also a PiS politician, said members of the opposition were wearing symbols that resembled those of the Hitler Youth and the SS, referring to the Women's Strike lightning logo.