Scotland Yard has apologised after officers posed for a photograph with a masked child holding a pro-Palestinian placard during the march in London on Saturday.

The photograph, widely circulated on social media, shows a young child in Hyde Park holding a sign with the flag of Palestine and “Save Our Children!!” on it.

The child can be seen wearing a chequered red and white keffiyeh, a scarf associated with those of Palestinian sympathies, over their nose and mouth.

A pair of smiling police officers equipped with tactical helmets and padded gloves stand either side of the child, with one officer looking directly into the camera.

The image quickly spread across social media with some users of X, formerly known as Twitter, questioning why the officers had agreed to pose alongside a “mini terrorist”.

The Metropolitan Police admitted that “it was not advisable for the officers to agree to pose for the photograph” but stressed that no action would be taken against them as they had been “trying to positively engage” with the protesters.

A spokesman said: “We always encourage our officers to be engaging and friendly with the public. 

“However, in the context of a protest about such a contentious issue we acknowledge that it was not advisable for the officers to agree to pose for the photograph.”