Corbyn and McDonnell agree to police interview after pro-Palestine march | UK news

Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell have agreed to be interviewed under caution by police after a pro-Palestine march in central London on Saturday.

Ten people have been charged with public order offences after protesters allegedly breached conditions as they marched through the city, allegedly breaking through a police line in the process.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) protest, in which thousands gathered to demonstrate against Israel’s 15-month war in Gaza, was changed to a static rally after police curtailed plans for a march past the BBC and near a synagogue.

Conditions were also put in place that prevented people involved from entering specific areas.

Corbyn, the former Labour leader, and McDonnell, the party’s former shadow chancellor, marched from Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square after speeches were made at the rally.

The Metropolitan police announced on Saturday that 77 people had been arrested – the highest number in more than 20 national PSC protests since October 2023.

Police detained 65 people for a breach of conditions, five for public order offences, two for obstructing police, one for supporting a proscribed organisation, one for inciting racial hatred, one for common assault, one for assault on an emergency worker, and one for sexual assault.

The police said on Sunday that a 75-year-old, who was understood to be Corbyn, and a 73-year-old, believed to be McDonnell, were due to be interviewed in the afternoon. A 61-year-old was also due to be questioned.

Scotland Yard said on Sunday that 24 people had been bailed and 48 remained in custody.

Those charged with public order offences included Christopher Nineham, 62, of Bow, London, the vice-chair of the Stop the War coalition and the chief steward on the march.

Others were named as Piers Corbyn, of Elephant and Castle, London, the former Labour leader’s 77-year-old brother; Angela Zelter, 73, of Knighton, Powys; Tessa Roe-Stanton, 20, Starr Thomas, 20, Christian Adair, 23, all from Brockley, London; Monday Rosenfeld, 21, of Limehouse, London; Matthew Brennan, 44, of St George, Bristol; David Ok, 40, of Kilburn, London. They are to appear at Westminster magistrates court this week.

The Met said in a statement: “Conditions were put in place after taking into account the cumulative impact of the prolonged period of protest on Jewish Londoners, particularly when protests are in the vicinity of synagogues often on Saturdays, the Jewish holy day.”

It added that officers saw a coordinated effort to breach these conditions, which prevented protesters forming up in the vicinity of a synagogue located a short distance from Portland Place.

Commander Adam Slonecki, who led the policing operation, said: “Yesterday we saw a deliberate effort, including by protest organisers, to breach conditions and attempt to march out of Whitehall.

“This was a serious escalation in criminality and one which we are taking incredibly seriously. Officers have worked around the clock to pursue those involved.”

According to the PA news agency, police blocked entrances in and out of the square to contain the protest. The Muslim Association of Britain criticised the Met’s decision to block the march, calling it “an outrageous assault on democracy, freedom of assembly, and freedom of expression”.