London Police Arrest Six in Pro-Palestinian Rally After Manchester Attack

Six people were arrested by London police during a pro-Palestinian protest in Trafalgar Square, despite calls from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the Home Secretary, and police to cancel the rally following a deadly terror attack at a synagogue in Manchester. The protest, organized to support the banned group Palestine Action, went ahead as planned with hundreds of demonstrators chanting and displaying slogans, leading to police dispersing seated activists and removing banners. Palestine Action was proscribed under anti-terrorism laws after members broke into a military airbase and damaged planes. Authorities expressed concern that the protests diverted resources from heightened security measures around synagogues and mosques after the attack. Starmer emphasized the need for unity and mourning rather than stoking tensions, while some officials suggested strengthening police powers to ban similar protests in the future. The incident highlights ongoing tensions and the challenges authorities face balancing public safety and the right to protest amid sensitive political and security concerns.