The Metropolitan Police say they have arrested 15 people so far today during demonstrations over the conflict in the Middle East.
There are two sets of protests being held in the capital today, including one by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and other groups, and a counter-protest organised by Stop the Hate.
The Metropolitan Police say one person was arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation.
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It comes after the force said they were “aware” of people displaying placards in support of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah – which is proscribed as a terror organisation in the UK.
There were seven arrests on suspicion of public order offences, three of which were allegedly racially aggravated.
Three people were arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker, three arrested on suspicion of assault, and one person was arrested on suspicion of breaching a Public Order Act condition.
Image: People taking part in a pro-Palestine march. Pic: PA
The act was imposed to avoid disorder after a counter-protest group was considered too close to the main march and well away from the agreed area.
Given the size of the crowd – which police have said appears to be “greater than other recent protests” – the force has asked witnesses to “take photos” of anyone holding placards supporting Hezbollah to help them investigate.
“What is easy to spot when walking among the crowd with a mobile phone is not always easy for officers to see from the edge of the crowd,” the Met Police said in a post on X.
“We are working to locate those involved. Action will be taken when we do, whether that is today or in the coming days.”
Image: A counter pro-Israeli demonstration in London. Pic: PA
Ahead of the anniversary of the 7 October attacks in Israel, police said they are unaware of any significant public events taking place on Monday.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council and other groups have organised a memorial event in Hyde Park on Sunday afternoon.
Israeli authorities say around 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken to Gaza as hostages on 7 October last year, when Hamas militants stormed parts of southern Israel.
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According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 41,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since that day.
While that figure does not differentiate between fighters and civilians, the majority of those identified have been women, children and elderly people.
A murder investigation has been launched after a man believed to be aged in his 90s was found dead at a house in Hambrook.
Police were called to the property on Mill Lane in the south Gloucestershire village by the ambulance service on Saturday morning.
A man was found dead at the scene.
A man in his 60s has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in police custody.
Avon and Somerset Police said a formal identification process is yet to be completed but officers believe the man is in his 90s.
His family have been told and are being supported by family liaison officers.
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Neighbourhood Chief Inspector Steph McKenna said it appears the two men knew each other and there is not believed to be any ongoing risk to the public.
“Our enquiries are at an early stage, but at this time it appears this was an isolated incident,” she said.
“Our thoughts are with the man’s family at this hugely upsetting time.”
A man has been arrested on suspicion of a sexual offence after a flight to Ibiza had to be diverted.
The Jet2 Edinburgh to Ibiza flight was diverted to Bristol Airport on Tuesday morning after the crew raised concerns about a passenger, who subsequently received medical treatment upon landing.
Avon and Somerset Police said information received on the ground prompted the arrest of a male passenger “on suspicion of a sexual offence”.
The force said: “A Jet2 flight from Edinburgh to Ibiza was safely diverted to Bristol Airport on Tuesday.
“The crew raised concerns regarding a passenger, who has received medical attention upon landing.
“Attending officers subsequently received information, prompting the arrest of a male passenger on suspicion of a sexual offence, who has been taken into custody.
“We can confirm this relates to an alleged incident onboard the aircraft.”
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The suspect has since been released on conditional bail as enquiries continue.
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Jet2 confirmed flight LS789 had been diverted so that “police could offload a passenger following an incident onboard”.
A spokesperson added: “As this is a police matter, we cannot comment any further at this stage.”
Twelve people have been arrested in connection with a demonstration that saw the Labour Party’s headquarters daubed in red paint.
Activists from the Youth Demand Group targeted the Opposition’s headquarters in central London today as it called for an arms embargo on Israel.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “Officers have been deployed in central London to a demonstration with ‘Youth Demand’ today.
“The demonstration started in Embankment and moved to Piccadilly Circus and Parliament Square with no road closures and no arrests.
“At 14:18hrs, police were called to an incident of criminal damage in Rushworth Street, SE1, following reports of protesters spraying paint inside and outside of a business property. Officers were on scene within two minutes and have arrested twelve people on suspicion of criminal damage.”
The protest comes as the government comes under pressure to publish legal advice it has received over whether Israel has breached international law in Gaza after seven aid workers, including three British volunteers, were killed in an airstrike last week – something Israel has said was a “grave mistake”.
Israel has killed more than 33,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October – including more than 15,000 children – according to health ministry figures in the Hamas-run territory.
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The government does not directly supply Israel with weapons but does grant export licences for British companies to sell arms to the country.
Labour has said arms exports to Israel should be suspended if the advice to ministers is that international law has been broken, but the government is refusing to make the guidance public, citing confidentiality.
Sir Keir Starmer has resisted backing an embargo without seeing the advice.
Youth Demand, which is calling for an arms embargo and an end to oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, said three of its supporters had sprayed the outside of Labour’s head office while another painted the lobby.
One of those involved, Chris Faulkner, 21, an earth sciences student from Oxford, said: “There has never been a safer time for Labour to be bold. Instead, they are behaving like the biggest cowards imaginable.
“Young people will not stand by and watch Keir Starmer allow mass murder by selling weapons to Israel and allowing the development of new oil and gas.
“Over 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza and the breakdown of our climate will kill hundreds of millions more in the coming decades.”
Labour declined to comment on the protest.
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Opposition parties and a raft of legal experts have demanded the government publishes the legal advice it has been given on whether sales should continue to ensure the UK is not complicit in any law-breaking activities.
Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Strike told Sky News this morning the UK had a “duty” to support Israel “in her hour of need” despite the row over arms sales, as he defended the decision not to publish the advice on the grounds that “long-standing convention” prevents the government from doing so.
Downing Street also denied reports there were splits in the cabinet over whether to publish the legal advice or not.
JK Rowling has dared police to arrest her as the Harry Potter author lashed out against new hate crime laws that have come into force in Scotland.
The new measures aim to tackle the harm caused by hatred and prejudice, extending protections from abusive behaviour to people on grounds including age, disability, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity.
A Holyrood minister, Siobhian Brown MSP, said on Monday people “could be investigated” for misgendering someone online.
Those who support the new laws insist they will make Scotland more tolerant. But critics such as Rowling say the legislation could stifle free speech – and fails to extend these protections to women.
Rowling put out a series of comments on X lashing out against transgender women, including double rapist Isla Bryson, who was jailed for eight years last year for raping two women.
Image: Harry Potter author JK Rowling has criticised the law. Pic: PA
The attacks were carried out in 2016 and 2019 when Bryson, who was born Adam Graham, was living as a man.
A decision to initially house Bryson in an all-female jail sparked a backlash from the public and politicians – and Bryson was moved to the male estate within days.
Rowling said: “I’m currently out of the country, but if what I’ve written here qualifies as an offence under the terms of the new act, I look forward to being arrested when I return to the birthplace of the Scottish Enlightenment.”
New laws ‘open to abuse’
She said the new legislation “is wide open to abuse by activists who wish to silence those of us speaking out about the dangers of eliminating women’s and girls’ single-sex spaces, the nonsense made of crime data if violent and sexual assaults committed by men are recorded as female crimes, the grotesque unfairness of allowing males to compete in female sports, the injustice of women’s jobs, honours and opportunities being taken by trans-identified men, and the reality and immutability of biological sex”.
Rowling has long been involved in a battle with the transgender community, who accuses her of being transphobic. The author denies the accusation, saying she wants to defend women’s rights.
On Monday she went on to say: “The re-definition of ‘woman’ to include every man who declares himself one has already had serious consequences for women’s and girls’ rights and safety in Scotland, with the strongest impact felt, as ever, by the most vulnerable, including female prisoners and rape survivors.
“It is impossible to accurately describe or tackle the reality of violence and sexual violence committed against women and girls, or address the current assault on women’s and girls’ rights, unless we are allowed to call a man a man. Freedom of speech and belief are at an end in Scotland if the accurate description of biological sex is deemed criminal.”
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2:35
Scotland’s hate crime laws explained
‘Too much hatred’
The Scottish Government has said separate laws will be brought in specifically to tackle misogyny.
First Minister Humza Yousaf has defended the legislation, saying there has been a “rising tide of hatred against people because of their protected characteristics” in recent years.
“I’m very proud of the hate crime act,” he said, adding it will “protect people from hatred, while at the same time protecting people in terms protecting people in terms of their freedom of expression”.
Equivalent ‘stirring up’ offences within the new act have existed for racial hatred since the 1980s and will be “policed sensibly”, he said.
Ms Brown, the minister for victims and community safety, added: “Nobody in our society should live in fear and we are committed to building safer communities that live free from hatred and prejudice.
“We know that the impact on those on the receiving end of physical, verbal or online attacks can be traumatic and life-changing. This legislation is an essential element of our wider approach to tackling that harm.
“Protections for freedom of expression are built into the legislation passed by parliament and these new offences have a higher threshold for criminality than the long-standing offence of stirring up racial hatred, which has been in place since 1986.”
‘I’m not here because of hate today’
Meanwhile, protesters staged a demonstration outside Holyrood against the new laws.
As a large crowd gathered outside the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh, one of the speakers led the protesters in a singalong of “why, oh why, oh Humza”.
Image: Protesters outside Holyrood demonstrating against the new hate crime laws
One of the organisers, Stef Shaw, told Sky News there is “great cause for concern” over the new legislation.
Mr Shaw, also known as the Glasgow Cabbie, said: “This is based on perception of hatred and one person’s perception of hatred could be very different from another person’s.
Image: Stef Shaw, known as the Glasgow Cabbie
“I see absolutely no positives to this act. It will cause major problems in Scotland.”
Image: Elizabeth Richardson, right
Elizabeth Richardson, from Rosyth in Fife, said: “I’m not here because of hate today. I’m here for the love of Scotland and the passion that I feel about the love of our country.
“Women can’t speak up about how they feel about men in women’s spaces any longer.
“They aren’t thinking about the women and children. We are not going to be protected and we can’t speak out to protect anybody either.”
Midlothian councillor Pauline Winchester branded the new laws “ridiculous”.
Image: Midlothian councillor Pauline Winchester
First Minister Humza Yousaf has previously stressed there will be a “triple lock” of protection for free speech.
This includes an explicit clause, a defence for the accused’s behaviour being “reasonable” and the fact the Act is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights.
In regards to being targeted with hate herself, Ms Winchester said: “I’m targeted quite often – English accent, Conservative councillor. I’m one of the targeted, so let’s see if it protects me as well.”
Pastor David Richardson, from East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire, said “free speech is going to be affected tremendously”.
Image: Pastor David Richardson, centre
He added: “People are going to start being more quiet about just normal conversations and opinion.
“This is going to cramp everyone’s style, big style.”
Image: A large crowd gathered outside the Scottish Parliament building
The pastor believes the new laws will affect everyone, not just Christians.
He added: “As the police start to try to apply this, it’s going to become very intrusive. This is going to be weaponised against people who want to speak their mind.”
A murder investigation has been launched after a 17-year-old boy was stabbed to death in Northern Ireland.
The boy was stabbed in the Woodland Walk area of Limavady, a town in County Londonderry/Derry, at around 9.30pm on Friday night.
He later died in hospital from his injuries.
Another man, in his 50s, was also taken to hospital. Police said he was in a stable condition.
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Five males have been arrested as part of a murder investigation by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the force said.
PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Mark Gibson said the five are helping police with their inquiries.
Police also appealed for anyone with information about what happened to contact them.
Luton Town captain Tom Lockyer says he is doing “very well” and “feeling very much myself” after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch earlier this month.
In his first statement since the incident, the 29-year-old footballer thanked “the players, staff, doctors and paramedics” for their “heroic actions”.
“I feel thankful that this happened to me surrounded by these heroes. They saved my life. I will never forget what you did for me,” he said.
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Tom Lockyer speaks about heart condition
Lockyer collapsed during Luton’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on 16 December, with the game abandoned shortly after half time at 1-1.
He was stretchered off surrounded by the medical team to a standing ovation from the crowd and given further treatment at the ground, before being taken to hospital.
In his statement, he said: “I have been overwhelmed by the support that I have received and thank you all for your messages, letters, gifts and well wishes.
“Seeing the banners at the ground and hearing my name being sung really did mean a lot to me and my family.”
The footballer praised his teammates, saying he feels “full of pride watching the boys carry on the battle without me”.
“The fighting spirit I’ve seen in the last three games has given me a much needed lift,” he said.
“I will be doing whatever I can in whichever ways are possible to help the Gaffer and the Club. In what capacity that is remains to be decided as I’m due to meet with specialists in the new year.”
Luton Town’s captain was discharged from hospital just before Christmas after he had a “successful procedure” to fit an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) device.
Lockyer also urged his followers to learn CPR, saying it “literally saves lives, like mine”, before again thanking fans for their support.
“I have been overwhelmed by the support that I have received and thank you all for your messages, letters, gifts and well wishes,” he added.
“Seeing the banners at the ground and hearing my name being sung really did mean a lot to me and my family.
“Finally I would like to thank Bournemouth, Gary Sweet, Rob Edwards and Luton Town for the support they’ve given my family during this time.”
Luton are currently 18th in the Premier League, just one point behind Everton but still in the relegation spots.
The incident in Bournemouth marked the second time the Welsh international collapsed during a game in 2023: Lockyerwas stretchered off the pitch after falling to the ground 12 minutes into Luton’s play-off final against Coventry City in May.
Speaking to Sky Sports in June, Lockyer confirmed he had an atrial flutter, a type of heart arrythmia which he said was “probably the least severe heart condition you could have”.
He underwent corrective surgery shortly after the collapse, and was “given the all-clear” to play in the Premier League.
Speaking at a press conference, Luton manager Rob Edwards gave a light-hearted updated about his captain, saying Lockyer is “bored already”.
“I speak to him every day. He is progressing. He seems bored already, but in generally good spirits, which is really good,” he told a press conference on Friday.
“He was taking the mick out of my Christmas trainers against (Sheffield United), so yeah he is doing well.”
Edwards also told TNT Sports on Friday: “The lads probably saw me crying like three times in a week – I don’t think there’s anything wrong with showing vulnerability and emotion.
“The players saw that we all care for each other, we always stress that when we sign a new player. I always say you’ll get respect, honesty and time.”
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Premier League footballer Tom Lockyer has been discharged from hospital after having a device that can restart his heart fitted by doctors following his collapse on the pitch during a match.
The Luton Town captain suffered a cardiac arrest during the club’s match against Bournemouth on Saturday.
The club confirmed in a statement that Lockyer was discharged from hospital on Wednesday.
He has undergone a “successful procedure” to fit an implantable cardioverter defibrillator device.
It was the second time the 29-year-old centre-back collapsed during a game, after a previous incident during Luton’s play-off final win on 28 May.
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.
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You can receive Breaking News alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News App. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
A man has been remanded in custody accused of stalking a Conservative MP by sending him threatening messages about the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Feras Al-Jayoosi, 36, was arrested by counter-terrorism police on Thursday and was later charged with stalking Justin Tomlinson, who represents North Swindon in Wiltshire, by sending multiple abusive and threatening emails which caused fear and concern.
Al-Jayoosi, from Swindon, appeared at Swindon Crown Court on Saturday.
During a brief hearing the court heard the alleged emails concerned the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza.
The defendant spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
He was denied bail and remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
Al-Jayoosi is also charged with criminal damage over an un-related matter.
Rishi Sunak has confronted China’s premier about Chinese interference in the UK’s parliamentary democracy.
It comes after two men were arrested under the Official Secrets Act amid reports a parliamentary researcher spied for China.
The researcher, who is in his 20s, is understood to have had links to security minister Tom Tugendhat, foreign affairs committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns and other senior Tory MPs.
Mr Sunak met Chinese premier Li Qiang, who is attending the G20 in place of president Xi Jinping, on the fringes of the summit’s final session on Sunday morning.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Sunak said he raised his “very strong concern” about interference with parliamentary democracy, which he said was “obviously unacceptable”.
It was the “right approach” to talk face-to-face with China’s premier, he said.
“Where there are areas of disagreement … I’d rather be in the room directly expressing my concerns, and that’s what I did today.”
The arrests were made in March and first revealed by The Sunday Times.
Mr Sunak has been clear China is an “epoch-defining” challenge, Justice Secretary Alex Chalk told Sky News’ Trevor Phillips on Sunday.
He defended security in parliament, saying a “rigorous approach is taken” in terms of who is given a parliamentary pass.
Asked if there are weaknesses in the security system that need addressing, he said: “I don’t think you should rule anything out”.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, which oversees espionage-related offences, are investigating.
Mr Chalk said the investigation must “play through” and police and security services are taking this “seriously”.
“Whatever lessons need to be learned by the parliamentary authorities I’m sure will be learned,” he said.
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1:53
“China is an epoch-defining challenge”
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Asked about the view of some in parliament that China is a threat to the UK, Mr Chalk said “you can’t wish China away”, noting it is second largest global economy and key to tackling the challenge of climate change.
“We have to engage, but we do so with our eyes open,” he said.
Former cabinet minister and diplomat Rory Stewart told Trevor Phillips the UK needs to be “much, much more serious” about protecting itself against Chinese and Russian spies.
“It’s in the interests of authoritarian states to weaken countries like the United Kingdom, so we should be very, very cautious,” he said.
Both the allocation of parliamentary passes and the funding of MPs needed reviewing, he said.
“People with strong links to the Chinese Communist Party have been giving money to Labour MPs and employing former Conservative MPs,” he said.
One of the men, in his 30s, was arrested in Oxfordshire on 13 March, while the other, in his 20s, was arrested in Edinburgh, Scotland Yard said.
“Searches were also carried out at both the residential properties, as well as at a third address in east London,” a statement from the force said.
The MPs he is linked to are privy to classified or highly sensitive information.
Both men were held at a south London police station until being bailed until early October.
Mr Tugendhat is said not to have had any contact with the researcher since before he became security minister in September last year.
Ms Kearns declined to comment, adding: “While I recognise the public interest, we all have a duty to ensure any work of the authorities is not jeopardised.”
The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China pressure group said it was “appalled at reports of the infiltration of the UK Parliament by someone allegedly acting on behalf of the People’s Republic of China”.
