Watch: Pro-Palestinian protesters occupy Department for Business and Trade

Police are investigating an allegation that pro-Palestinian protesters assaulted a member of staff as they occupied a government department in Whitehall.

A group of activists forced their way into the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) this morning and staged a sit-down protest over its perceived links to the supply of arms to Israel, amid the country’s ongoing war against Hamas.

They blocked the entrance to the building in Spring Gardens for about five minutes before leaving when Metropolitan Police officers arrived.

Following the protest, which took place at around 8.45am, the force said it had received a report of an assault.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Police subsequently received an allegation of assault from a member of staff at the building that took place as protesters gained entry. This is being investigated.”

No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing, the spokesman added.

The DBT condemned the protest as “unacceptable” and said it could not be justified.

A spokesman said: “It is completely unacceptable to harass civil servants as they go about their jobs and the attempt to enter the department by force cannot be justified in any way.

“We are grateful to the police for their response and swift action.

“We take our defence export responsibilities extremely seriously and operate one of the most robust export licensing controls in the world.”

The Times reported that the protesters staged a distraction, in which a cyclist crashed into a pedestrian, before entering the building.

The group of around 15 waved Palestine flags and chanted the slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.

Protesters left the building shortly before police officers arrived at 08.51am, according to police.