Scotland Yard will use the River Thames as a barrier to keep pro-Iranian regime demonstrators and counter-protesters apart during the Al Quds rally on Sunday.
The ‘unprecedented’ tactic comes after the march was downgraded to a static demonstration when the Metropolitan Police warned of ‘serious public disorder’ should it go ahead as intended.
Assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said: ‘We have not used this (tactic) before but because this is a unique set of circumstances we need a unique plan to keep these groups apart.’
Mr Adelekan said the ongoing war in Iran meant the rally and counter-protest could attract up to 12,000 people, significantly surpassing numbers seen at the previous Al Quds annual event.
The Home Secretary this week approved a Met request to prohibit the march – the first time this has happened since 2012 – but said it was not possible to ban a static demonstration.
Explaining why the police made the request to Shabana Mahmood, Mr Adelekan said: ‘It is our assessment that even with strict conditions we could not prevent the two sides coming together and risking serious public disorder.’
He said groups including The Lion Guard of Iran, Stop the Hate and the Free Iran Coalition had already made it clear they would be joining the counter-protest against supporters of the Ayatollah regime.
And it may even be necessary to segregate the various groups of counter-protesters, who hold different agendas, Mr Adelekan warned.
Al Quds demonstrators will be based on the south side of the river at Albert Embankment, while the counter protest will take place over the water at Millbank.
Assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan said: ‘We have not used this (tactic) before but because this is a unique set of circumstances we need a unique plan to keep these groups apart.’
The Met will be deploying more than 1,000 officers to police the demonstration, drawing on reinforcements from other forces through mutual aid.
Al Quds demonstrators will be based on the south side of the river at Albert Embankment, while the counter protest will take place over the water at Millbank.
Lambeth bridge will remain closed except for emergency vehicles.
‘Dividing where the two groups assemble means they will use different transport hubs, plus they are divided by the river and we can control the bridges as well,’ Mr Adelekan said.
‘I have been at this organisation for 31 years but I cannot think of another time we have used this tactic before, so as far as I am concerned it is new.’
He warned the measures could not guarantee there was no disorder but said he was confident they would mitigate the risks.
Officers are having to be redeployed from neighbourhood policing to cover the event and patrol Jewish neighbourhoods in the capital.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood this week approved a Met request to prohibit the march – the first time this has happened since 2012 – but said it was not possible to ban a static demonstration.
The Al Quds demonstration is held every year during Ramadan and named after the Arabic name for Jerusalem.
Marchers have previously called for Israel to be ‘wiped off the map’ while carrying the flags of Iranian-backed terror group Hezbollah.
The demonstration is held every year during Ramadan and named after the Arabic name for Jerusalem.
Mr Adelekan said: ‘While we will protect the right to freedom of speech, there is a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime and anyone who crosses the line can expect to face arrest.’
Ms Mahmood has said restrictions on the protest – including its location – was a matter for the police.
Discussing the issue in the Commons on Wednesday, the Home Secretary described the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), which is organising the event, as ‘an organisation that has been closely associated with the Iranian regime’.
