Demonstrations marking the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks carried out by Hamas militants against Israel led to clashes and arrests in London on Wednesday. The anniversary recalls an assault in 2021 in which approximately 1,200 people—mostly civilians—were killed and over 250 taken hostage.

In Camden, police detained five individuals during what was described as a spontaneous protest outside the Board of Deputies. The arrests were made on charges of inciting racial hatred, reportedly related to chanting slogans calling for an intifada. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that those arrested remain in custody. The protest subsequently dispersed.

Separately, around 100 pro-Palestine demonstrators gathered in central London, chanting slogans such as “free free Palestine” and “free the people, free the land.” The demonstration drew a counterprotest, with participants displaying Israeli flags and placards, while some shouted disparaging remarks directed at the pro-Palestine group. Two arrests occurred at the central London event—one for breach of conditions and another for common assault.

Student groups connected to Queen Mary University of London organized a separate rally near their campus in east London. Additional pro-Palestine demonstrations were scheduled at universities in Edinburgh and Glasgow. These events faced criticism from some quarters, including Jewish student leaders who condemned the timing of the marches as “outrageous.”

Government officials also weighed in on the protests. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting described the planned demonstrations as “shameful,” while Education Secretary Lucy Powell called on students to “show compassion and protest on another day.”

In response to the anniversary, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham publicly reaffirmed support for the British Jewish community, stating, “we stand with you” in opposition to antisemitism.

The demonstrations and subsequent police action mark a tense moment reflecting the ongoing sensitivities surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and its international reverberations.