This is the moment protestors and police clashed this morning in north London after seven Kurdish terror suspects were arrested.
Chants of ‘Free Kurdistan’ and ‘shame on you’ were heard as police officers formed a line and scuffled with protestors in ugly scenes outside the Kurdish community centre in Haringey.
Scotland Yard officers yelled ‘get back’ and ‘you’re not going any further’ during a heated confrontation as they tried to move a group that had formed in the middle of the road.
Four protestors were arrested on suspicion of support for a proscribed organisation, assaulting an emergency worker, making threats to kill and a racially aggravated public order offence.
Extra officers have been deployed to the area with protests continuing into this evening.
It came after the Metropolitan Police carried out a slew of early morning raids at eight addresses, including the community centre, to arrest suspected members of the banned militant group Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the ‘PKK’.
Six people, including a 59-year-old woman, a 27-year-old man, a 31-year-old woman, a 62-year-old man, a 56-year-old man and a 23-year-old man were arrested at separate addresses across London early this morning.
The Met announced tonight a 31-year-old man had become the seventh person to be arrested.
They have all been detained under section 41(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000 and are in custody at a London police station.
The PKK has been banned in Britain, America, and Turkey. It was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK government in 2001.
Additional police arrive as the protestors spilled onto Green Lanes, Haringey blocking traffic. The police moved the protesters back onto Stanhope Road where scuffles took place
A heavy police presence was observed at the Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey, north London
‘Free Kurdistan’ and ‘Don’t talk to the police’ signs were seen on the windows of one home
Chants of ‘Free Kurdistan’ and ‘shame on you’ were heard as police officers formed a line and scuffled with protesters in ugly scenes outside the Kurdish community centre in Haringey
Feminist group Sisters Uncut called out on X this morning for ‘numbers needed’ at the community centre following the arrests.
A group could be seen playing music and performing a dance as they held hands in the middle of the road.
Others surrounded a lorry loaded with metal barriers in an attempt to stop them from being unloaded and used to block entry to the community centre.
One nearby resident, who wants to remain anonymous, said he saw streams of armed officers detaining the individuals.
They told MailOnline: ‘I got up in the morning at 3am to go downstairs and make a sandwich but when I went to look out of the kitchen window I could see movement outside looking onto Portland Gardens and I could see two streams of armed officers walking away from where the Kurdish centre was.
‘Roughy guessing, I could see at least 60 officers. It was insane. I could see armoured police trucks and police armed with weapons, the ones you would associate with anti-terrorism.
‘On the main street on Stanhope, there were probably five or six police vans and maybe six or seven police cars, plus two other blacked-out police vehicles.
‘It’s been like this for a while now. There are police there once a week at least.
‘But what was really suspicious was how quietly this was done. They used no flashing lights until about 5 or 6am.
‘It was like they didn’t want anyone to know they were doing this. But from what I could see it was like a full blown riot.’
Scotland Yard officers yelled ‘get back’ and ‘you’re not going any further’ during a heated confrontation with protestors
Police officers stand outside a Kurdish community centre after a counter terrorism investigation into suspected activity linked to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, known as the PKK
Scotland Yard officers clash with protestors near the Kurdish community centre
Officers can be seen crouching on the floor and appearing to be attending to someone on the ground
Police officers block a road leading to a Kurdish community centre that was raided by counter-terror police
Scotland Yard officers tried to move a group that had formed in the middle of the road
Members of the Kurdish community perform a dance near a Kurdish community centre
Acting Commander Helen Flanagan, from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: ‘This activity has come about following a significant investigation and operation into activity we believe is linked to the terrorist group PKK. These are targeted arrests of those we suspect of being involved in terrorist activity linked to the group.
A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘Earlier today, a group of protestors gathered in the vicinity of the Kurdish Community Centre in Portland Gardens, Haringey following the arrest of six people this morning on suspicions of terrorism offences linked to the PKK.
‘Officers continue to carry out related search activity at the community centre, which remains closed to the public.
‘Additional officers have also been deployed to the area in relation to the protest activity.
‘Four protestors have been arrested on suspicion of support for a proscribed organisation, assaulting an emergency worker, making threats to kill and a racially aggravated public order offence.
‘We recognise the impact that this action has had on people in the community and we will work hard to offer support alongside our partners.
‘Local officers will continue to have a presence in the area over the coming days and we’d urge the public to speak to them if they have continuing concerns.’
‘I hope that these arrests show that we will not tolerate any sort of terrorist activity and that we will take action where we believe there is harm being caused to communities here in the UK or elsewhere.’
As part of the investigation, officers are carrying out searches at eight addresses across London, including at the Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey, north London.
The search activity at all eight locations is ongoing. The search at the community centre is expected to last up to two weeks. Both the centre and the surrounding area will be closed to the public while officers continue their work there.
Members of the Kurdish community hold hands near a Kurdish community centre
Police officers stand near riot van outside the Kurdish community centre following an early morning raid
Members of the Kurdish community perform a dance near a Kurdish community centre
As part of the investigation, officers are carrying out searches at eight addresses across London, including at the Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey, north London
Four protestors have been arrested on suspicion of support for a proscribed organisation, assaulting an emergency worker, making threats to kill and a racially aggravated public order offence
Members of the Kurdish community perform play music and dance near a Kurdish community centre
Members of the Kurdish community perform a dance near a Kurdish community centre
Members of the Kurdish community play music near a Kurdish community centre
Police officers surround a lorry containing barriers that was being blocked from being unloading by Kurdish people
Police officers block a road leading to a Kurdish community centre that was raided by counter-terror police
Additional local officers will be carrying out patrols and there will be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days, with officers available to speak with any members of the public who may be concerned.
Acting Commander Flanagan added: ‘This investigation and activity is about protecting all of our communities, but particularly those in our Turkish and Kurdish communities. I would urge anyone who thinks they may have been affected or targeted by those linked to the PKK to get in touch.
‘We are also very mindful that closing the community centre may cause inconvenience to some people. Officers will be working as quickly as they can, but these are very serious allegations so it is important that we take care in identifying and gathering as much evidence as we can.’
Anyone with concerns or information relating to the investigation or activities of the PKK can contact police in confidence on 0800 789 321 or by visiting www.gov.uk/ACT
