People gather at Al-Quds Day protest as police warn Palestine Action support and 'intifada chants' will lead to arrest
The warning comes days after the Government allowed the Met Police to ban the march - the first to be blocked in London since 2012
Protesters have been warned they face arrest if they show support for Palestine Action or perform intifada chants as they gather for an Al-Quds Day protest in central London.
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Scores of people began arriving from 1pm, many holding Palestine flags and banners, some reading “Free Palestine” and “No to Israeli occupation”.
Pictures of Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were also held up, some accompanied by the message “Choose the right side of history”.
A group of counter-protesters have gathered on Millbank, near Westminster in central London, ahead of a demonstration organised by Stop The Hate.
Around a hundred were assembled at 12.20pm on Sunday.
One man held an Israel flag, while another waved a flag reading “Hamas is terrorist”.
The Met Police is expecting around 12,000 people to take part in the annual rally, an international event to show support for Palestinian rights. Police have warned officers will “act decisively” on intifada chants and placards spreading hate.
Scotland Yard is bracing for a “difficult public order” environment on Sunday, with at least 1,000 officers drafted in to manage crowds.
It comes after Home Secretary Shabanna Mahmood took the rare step in allowing the force to ban the protest, amid fears of serious disorder taking place because of its links to Iran.
Ms Mahmood approved the ban on Tuesday, making it just the second demonstration to be blocked in London since 2012 when marches by the far-right English Defence League were stopped.
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However, people can still legally assemble and take part in a so-called "static protest," prompting warnings by police that those who "march or incites others to march" face arrest.
The Al-Quds event takes its name from the Arabic version of the word Jerusalem, and was formed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after Iran's 1979 revolution.
Intifada is the Arabic word for "uprising" and often refers to Palestinian resistance movements against Israel.
Ade Adelekan, deputy assistant at the Met, said: "Officers on the ground will act decisively and be briefed on placards, flags and chanting that will cross the line into hate crime or support of a proscribed organisation.
"As set out previously, we will also take action where we see chants calling for intifada. We know these words have consequences."
Police patrols will also be deployed around places of worship, community venues and embassies on Sunday, Met Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said.
The annual event in London had drawn criticism over apparent backing for the Iranian regime after its organisers expressed support for the country’s late leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first wave of US strikes on February 28.
A counter-protest has also been planned, with police using the River Thames to block the demonstrations from clashing.
All demonstrations will take place between Vauxhall and Lambeth bridges, and are permitted between 1pm and 3pm, police have said.
It comes a month after the Government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action was unlawful, but the group remains banned pending an appeal by the Home Office.
Speaking on Tuesday, a Met spokesperson said: "The Home Secretary has consented to the Metropolitan Police banning Sunday’s Al Quds march and any associated counter-protest marches.
"This will be in place from 16:00hrs on Wednesday, 11 March and last one month.
"The Al Quds march is uniquely contentious having originated in Iran and in London is organised by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, an organisation supportive of the Iranian regime and was due to take place on Sunday, 15 March.
"The threshold to ban a protest is high and we do not take this decision lightly; this is the first time we have used this power since 2012."
Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, is said to have assessed that the risk of serious disorder had reached the threshold that justified such action.