Violence broke out as mounted
police officers charged at a crowd of
protesters at a Black Lives Matter demonstration in central London.
After a day of largely peaceful
protests in cities across the country, tensions began to flare as crowds gathered outside Downing Street.
Videos circulating on
Social Media show mounted officers driving back demonstrators along Whitehall, while protesters were filmed throwing plastic and glass bottles towards police.Police in Whitehall charge Black Lives Matter protesters as they throw bottles at police horses. pic.twitter.com/lsidWFC2md— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 6, 2020Officers in helmets and holding shields had formed two lines outside of Downing Street, separating the crowd.
Police then tried to force demonstrators further down Whitehall. Some protesters linked arms and turned their backs to stop themselves from being moved on, urging each other to “stand your ground”.
An officer was knocked from her horse after riding into a traffic light, the Metropolitan Police confirmed. She is currently in hospital receiving treatment for her injuries.UPDATE | The officer is currently in hospital, receiving treatment for her injuries which are not life threatening. The officer fell from her horse, and we are examining the full circumstances of what took place.— MPS Events (@MetPoliceEvents) June 6, 2020Home secretary Priti Patel said violence towards police at protests was “completely unacceptable” and gave officers her “full support in tackling disorderly behaviour”.We have made specific enforcement powers available to them during the pandemic to help protect the entire public.— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) June 6, 2020Mayor of
London Sadiq Khan praised those who protested peacefully on Saturday but said people who became violent “let down the cause”.
He said: “To the thousands of Londoners who protested peacefully today, I stand with you and I share your anger and your pain.
“George Floyd’s brutal killing must be a catalyst for change worldwide.”
He added: “No country, city, police service or institution can absolve itself of the responsibility to do better.
“We must stand together and root out
racism wherever it is found. Black Lives Matter.
“To the tiny minority who were violent and threw glass bottles and lit flares – you endangered a safe and peaceful protest and let down this important cause.”Extraordinary scenes in Whitehall as police horses charge into the crowd. A police officer was knocked clean out when he hit the traffic light. pic.twitter.com/ZcgKwOPsVn— Marc Ward (@MarcStevenPhoto) June 6, 2020The Metropolitan Police said that, by 5pm, four arrests had been made. All of the suspects are in custody. The arrests were on suspicion of assaulting police, criminal damage, making threats and calling for violence and an incident of dangerous driving near the US Embassy.The clashes took place after a largely peaceful day of protests that began on Saturday afternoon.
Earlier protesters dropped to one knee and raised their fists outside the
US Embassy, chanting slogans such as “silence is violence” and “colour is not a crime”.Related... Thousands Of Anti-Racism Protesters Nationwide Take To The Streets Black Lives Matter Activists Explain Why They’re Marching Shielding From Covid-19, I Can’t Physically Protest For Justice. I Still Want To Be Heard