MPs Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell will be interviewed under caution by police following a pro-Palestinian rally in central London on Saturday.
The former Labour leader, 75, and former shadow chancellor, 73, will voluntarily attend a police station today as the Metropolitan Police investigates a pro-Palestine event.
Saturday’s Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) protest was adjusted to be a static rally after police curtailed organisers’ plans for a march past the BBC and near a synagogue, and conditions were put in place that prevented people involved from entering specific areas.
Thousands of demonstrators, including Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell, marched towards Trafalgar Square from Whitehall after speeches were made at the rally.
The Metropolitan Police announced on Saturday that 77 people had been arrested – the highest number across more than 20 national PSC protests since October 2023.
Some 65 people had been detained for a breach of conditions, five for public order offences, two for obstructing police, one for supporting a proscribed organisation, one for inciting racial hatred, one for common assault, one for assault on an emergency worker and one for sexual assault.
The force said on Sunday that 24 people have been bailed and 48 remain in custody, including the former Labour leader’s brother Piers Corbyn, 77.
On social media on Saturday, the Met Police posted a photo from the protest, captioned: ‘The group that forced its way through the police line is now held at the north west corner of Trafalgar Square.
‘Anyone in that group should now disperse and leave the area. Anyone remaining in breach of the conditions, or inciting further breaches, will be arrested.’
Jemery Corbyn responded, saying: ‘This is not an accurate description of events at all. I was part of a delegation of speakers, who wished to peacefully carry and lay flowers in memory of children in Gaza who had been killed.
‘This was facilitated by the police. We did not force our way through. When we reached Trafalgar Square, we informed police that we would go no further, lay down flowers and disperse.
‘At that point, the Chief Steward, Chris Nineham was arrested. We then turned back and dispersed. I urge the police to release all bodycam footage and retract its misleading account of events.’
John McDonnell also responded: ‘I spoke at demo and was part of a procession of speakers aiming to go to BBC to lay flowers commemorating the death of Palestinian children.
‘We did not force our way through, the police allowed us to go through and when stopped in Trafalgar Square we laid our flowers down and dispersed.’
