Palestine Action protesters clash with police in chaos near Trafalgar Square

Chaos has erupted close to Trafalgar Square as police clash with protesters campaigning over Palestine.

Tension between pro-Palestine Action demonstators and the police has worsened in recent weeks. Today, things became violent as protesters from the group were seen brawling with the police.

Shocking pictures captured violence as swarms of protesters gathered near Trafalgar Square. The latest protest comes just one day after the Met Policeimposed an exclusion zone around Westminster.

The force has since confirmed that three people have been arrested. A spokesperson wrote on Twitter: "Officers entered the crowd to speak to three people but were surrounded by other protesters, some of whom used force to attempt to free those being detained. Two were arrested for obstruction. A third arrest was made earlier for a racially aggravated public order offence."

READ MORE: Pro-Palestine activist group to be banned after breaking into RAF Brize Norton

Ahead of the protest, police chief Sir Mark earlier said he is "shocked and frustrated" that it is going ahead. In a statement on Sunday, Sir Mark said: “I’m sure many people will be as shocked and frustrated as I am to see a protest taking place tomorrow in support of Palestine Action.

"This is an organised extremist criminal group, whose proscription as terrorists is being actively considered. Members are alleged to have caused millions of pounds of criminal damage, assaulted a police officer with a sledgehammer and last week claimed responsibility for breaking into an airbase and damaging aircraft.

“The right to protest is essential and we will always defend it but actions in support of such a group go beyond what most would see as legitimate protest.”

Palestine Action has staged a series of demonstrations in recent months, including spraying the London offices of Allianz Insurance with red paint over its alleged links to Israeli defence company Elbit, and vandalising US President Donald Trump’s Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire.

Palestine Action posted footage online showing two people inside the base at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Friday morning. The clip shows one person riding an electric scooter up to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker and appearing to spray paint into its jet engine. The incident is being investigated by counter-terror police.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has said that the group had "orchestrated a nationwide campaign of direct criminal action against businesses and institutions".

In a written statement, Ms Cooper said: "In several attacks, Palestine Action has committed acts of serious damage to property with the aim of progressing its political cause and influencing the Government. These include attacks at Thales in Glasgow in 2022; and last year at Instro Precision in Kent and Elbit Systems UK in Bristol.

"The seriousness of these attacks includes the extent and nature of damage caused, including to targets affecting UK national security, and the impact on innocent members of the public fleeing for safety and subjected to violence. The extent of damage across these three attacks alone, spreading the length and breadth of the UK, runs into the millions of pounds."