By Eight police officers injured during anti-lockdown protest yesterday
Eight police officers were injured yesterday as the anti-lockdown protest in London’s Hyde Park turned violent.
According to the Metropolitan Police, five people were arrested for offences including assault on a police officer. They remained in custody last night.
They said that demonstrators at the protests threw missiles, including bottles, at the officers.
Two officers were taken to hospital, but their injuries were not thought to be serious.
Pictures posted to social media showed police officers who were bleeding from cuts on their heads after the items struck them.
John Apter, the national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, tweeted: “These officers are just doing a job. To be targeted in the way they are says a lot about the society we’ve become. I will continue to do my best to support them but I need government to do more, much more.”
Demonstrators protested against the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions and the prospect of vaccine passports.
They carried banners displaying messages including “vaccine passports = a two-tiered society” and “give flu a chance”. One placard read: “You don’t need proof to know truth.”
A video posted by a protestor showed the tense scenes between police and demonstrators at Hyde Park yesterday.
Batons out: Further violence as police clash with anti-lockdown protesters in Hyde Park, London. #londonprotest #londonprotests #Antilockdown pic.twitter.com/XDxovU4HG7
— Urban Pictures (@Urban_Pictures) April 24, 2021
Crowds also took to Oxford Street, and demonstrators shouted at shoppers to “take your masks off”.
This comes after the Covid-19 national lockdown restrictions were eased, with outdoor hospitality venues and non-essential shops, among other places, to re-open to the public once again on 12 April.
According to the government’s roadmap, further restrictions will be eased on 17 May, which will see larger groups of people being allowed to mix, and indoor hospitality venues being allowed to open to customers.
Watch yesterday’s scenes from Oxford Street in the videos below.
🔴LIVE: Large crowd marching streets of London
Anti Lockdown Protest | Hyde Park
Watch now: https://t.co/1Bu5ccj3dd#LondonProtest #LIVE #Livestream #London #Freedom #HydePark #Protest #Police #AntiLockdownProtest #AntiLockdown pic.twitter.com/mPerMpe4qE— Subject Access (@SubjectAccesss) April 24, 2021
Hundreds of thousands of people have come together to show the government we will not be silenced, locked up or lied to anymore.#londonprotest pic.twitter.com/zO1ko8ro0Y
— We Will Be Free (@WeWillBeFree82) April 24, 2021
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