Protesters at a Free Palestine demonstration clashed with police in London on Saturday.

Metropolitan Police officers attempted to break up the march held over the Israel-Gaza conflict as hundreds of people gathered at a drinking fountain in St James’s Park from noon.

A few scuffles broke out when officers appeared to advance on the protest leader, an NHS doctor, after he gave a speech using a loudspeaker.

Officers then created a cordon to try to prevent demonstrators crossing Westminster Bridge.

The protesters chanted at officers “shame on you” and “who do you serve, who do you protect?”

Several hundred protesters could be seen waving Palestinian flags and holding handmade placards condemning Israel’s war in Gaza. Some placards read: “No votes for genocide supporters.”

Four Metropolitan Police vans carrying a number of officers were parked next to the fountain on Birdcage Walk, with other vehicles and officers on horseback also patrolling the road.

Protest group to form ‘blockade’ in central London

The Free Palestine Coalition (FPC), which says it is made up of “grassroots organisations in London, including Sisters Uncut, Black Lives Matter UK, London for a Free Palestine, and the Palestinian Youth Movement” told supporters to meet at the drinking fountain at St James’s Park at noon.

It says they will be “blockading a well-known location in London” and are expecting thousands to attend.

“The FPC has chosen this date, in advance of Parliament returning, to send a strong signal to the UK Government that Palestine is a political priority and that there can be no business as usual,” it said.

A large number of officers will be in central London “to minimise disruption and deal with any offences” as protest groups hold a march demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, the Metropolitan Police said.

The force posted on X, formerly Twitter: “Various protest groups, including Sisters Uncut and Black Lives Matter, are planning to hold a protest in central London today.

“Officers have attempted to speak with the organisers, however they have not shared any information with us about their proposed route.

“This has an impact on how we plan our policing response and means more officers have to be deployed to central London to ensure we can respond quickly.”