Met imposes conditions on London student march

The Metropolitan Police imposed strict conditions on a planned pro-Palestinian student march in central London on October 7, saying the protest could not be banned because the legal threshold for seeking a prohibition had not been met. The reports do not establish whether the march ultimately took place or whether anyone was arrested. Under the police conditions, participants were required to assemble at Lincoln’s Inn Fields at 12:30 p.m., follow a designated route to Russell Square and disperse by 2 p.m. Face coverings that concealed a participant’s identity were prohibited. Police said people who breached the conditions or committed offences could face arrest. The march was organised by the University of London Coalition, a group of pro-Palestinian organisations linked to universities in the capital. The Metropolitan Police urged organisers and those planning to attend to reconsider holding it on the anniversary of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel. Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the date would be one of mourning and reflection for many people in London and that police were aware of serious concerns, particularly among Jewish communities.