NEWS
Coronavirus: Protesters clash with police at
London anti-lockdown demo
Scuffles have broken out between police and people
protesting coronavirus restrictions in London. Officers said they ordered the
crowd to disperse after demonstrators failed to follow social distancing rules.
Police and
protesters clashed in London's Trafalgar Square on Saturday after officers
tried to break up a rally against coronavirus restrictions.
At least 10
people were arrested and four officers were injured, including two who had to
be hospitalized, police said.
Thousands
of anti-lockdown demonstrators had gathered in the British capital chanting
"Freedom!" and waving banners with messages such as "No to
mandatory vaccines," "We do not consent" and
"COVID-1984."
But things
turned violent when police ordered the crowd to disperse, warning protesters
they were violating the very social distancing and mask-wearing rules they had
come to demonstrate against. Video footage showed officers using batons to
drive protesters back, as people pelted officers with bottles.
Britain's
COVID-19 regulations limit gatherings to six people. But protests are exempt
from that rule — on the condition that participants wear masks and adhere to
social distancing.
"We
want to be clear, this protest is no longer exempt from the regulations,"
police announced on Twitter about three hours after the protest began.
"We are
asking those attending to disperse. Sadly, some officers have been injured
while engaging with people."
"This
is not acceptable. I urge all protesters to leave now," London Mayor Sadiq
Khan said on Twitter. "Large gatherings are banned for a reason — you are
putting the safety of our city at risk."
Many
demonstrators then moved from Trafalgar Square to join another group amassing
in Hyde Park.
Groups of
protesters have staged regular rallies in recent months over what they argue
are unreasonable government-imposed curbs on everyday life. Police arrested 32
people during similar clashes in Trafalgar Square last weekend.
A number of
German cities have also seen recent protests against coronavirus restrictions.
Saturday's
rally came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson this week announced new rules
amid a sharp rise in infections. The measures included a 10 p.m. curfew on pubs
and restaurants, tougher face mask requirements and heftier fines for those not
complying. Some lawmakers, including those from Johnson's own Conservative
Party, have criticized the prime minister for implementing new regulations
without a vote in Parliament.
With nearly
42,000 confirmed fatalities, Britain has the highest coronavirus death toll of
any country in Europe. On Saturday, it reported more than 6,000 new cases and
34 deaths.
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