Hundreds of police officers have been deployed in central London as a major pro-Palestine march gets underway, passing close to a planned counter-demonstration.
Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters set off from Piccadilly at around 1pm, marching via Haymarket toward Whitehall, calling for an end to “Israel’s siege of Gaza”.
A counter-protest, organised by the group Stop the Hate, has assembled at the junction of Haymarket and Coventry Street, close to Piccadilly Circus. Barriers and officers were in place to ensure the groups were kept apart as they passed each other, but police reported no incidents occurred as a result.
Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: “The genocide in Gaza has not ended. It continues by other means - by blocking supplies which are essential to human life. Israel’s desire to ethnically cleanse and colonise Gaza has not disappeared, it remains a clear and present danger, which is now evident in the West Bank also.”
The demonstrations coincide with tens of thousands of football fans arriving in the capital ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final between Newcastle United and Liverpool at Wembley Stadium.
Police will also oversee a separate demonstration starting at 3pm near the Royal Mint, protesting plans to build a new Chinese Embassy. The protest is organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.
Live coverage ends
17:40 , Josh SalisburyOur live coverage of today’s pro-Palestine protest is now ending.
The Met Police confirmed the march passed without incident, and that Whitehall, where the march ended, would be reopened shortly.
For an overview of the day’s events, visit here.
Palestine protest concludes 'without incident'
16:43 , Josh SalisburyToday’s pro-Palestine demo in central London has now finished without incident, police said.
A Met spokesperson said: “The Palestine Coalition protest has concluded without incident.
“We’ll reopen Whitehall as soon as the stage and other infrastructure has been removed and it is safe to do so.”
Separate protest against China 'mega embassy' plans begins
15:37 , Josh SalisburyAway from the pro-Palestine protest, demonstrators are also gathering outside the proposed site for a new Chinese ‘mega embassy’.
The controversial plans would see China build Europe’s largest embassy on the Royal Mint Court site in Tower Hamlets, close to the Tower of London.
It has been opposed by campaigners on human rights grounds, as well as fears of espionage and security risks. The protest, organised by the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance On China, began at 3pm.
Bloody hell there has to be 5,000 people here. pic.twitter.com/pol2htsS4I
— Luke de Pulford (@lukedepulford) March 15, 2025
Pictures show demonstration in central London
15:09 , Josh SalisburyPictures show pro-Palestine protesters marching holding signs and banners that read "stop arming Israel" and "open your eyes Keir, see what Israel is doing".
They were joined by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn as they prepare to make their way to the end point in Whitehall.
March passes counter-protest 'without incident'
14:54 , Josh SalisburyThe pro-Palestinian march has passed counter-protesters without incident, police said.
A counter-protest, organised by the group Stop The Hate, is taking place in Coventry Street, near Piccadilly Circus.
A Met spokesperson said: “The march has now fully passed the counter protest. There were no incidents, that were aware of, as it did so.
“The front of the march is at the end point in Whitehall where speeches are due to take place.”
Jeremy Corbyn joins pro-Palestine march as thousands rally in central London
13:57 , Sami QuadriJeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) and @khalidabdalla join the front of the march for Palestine 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/WAo7F6ns22
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) March 15, 2025
The march has set off
13:19 , Shaun WilsonThe Metropolitan Police posted on X: "The march has now set off and is heading along Piccadilly. There is a planned counter protest at the corner of Haymarket and Coventry Street. There are barriers and officers there to ensure the groups are kept apart as they pass.”
The march has now set off and is heading along Piccadilly.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 15, 2025
There is a planned counter protest at the corner of Haymarket and Coventry Street.
There are barriers and officers there to ensure the groups are kept apart as they pass. pic.twitter.com/lICjoRBkBM
Trafalgar Square closed today as Liverpool and Newcastle fans arrive at Wembley
13:17 , Shaun WilsonThe Met Police stated Trafalgar Square will be closed off for football fans out to celebrate today, as the area will be used for tomorrow’s St Patrick’s Day Parade.
The force stated: “This weekend will also see tens of thousands of football fans visiting London ahead of Sunday’s Carabao Cup Final at Wembley. We have provided further information for those fans on our website, including details of dispersal orders and restrictions on alcohol that will be in force.
“A key difference this weekend compared to previous years is the closure of Trafalgar Square. It is typically a favourite gathering point for fans, but on Saturday it will be unavailable due to ongoing preparations for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations on Sunday.”
Protesters call for a boycott of Elon Musk's Tesla car manufacturer
12:26 , Shaun WilsonProtesters gathered outside a Tesla dealership in London have called for people to boycott the Elon Musk owned electric car maker.
Organisers are encouraging Tesla owners to sell their cars and for people to dump stock.
The electric car giant has already seen shares plunge since the start of the year as the firm comes under pressure from Chinese rivals amid calls for a boycott over Musk’s close ties with US President Donald Trump and far-right causes.
A small group of demonstrators at the Tesla centre in Park Royal, west London, held up banners that read “Honk if you hate Tesla” and “Enough fascist nonsense”.
Marchers start to arrive for today's pro-Palestine protest
12:10 , Shaun Wilson
People starting to arrive at Green Park for the march for Palestine 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/Nun3pOJyjJ
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) March 15, 2025
Ben Jamal from Palestine Solidarity Campaign talks about today's march
11:23 , Shaun WilsonBen Jamal from Palestine Solidarity Campaign talks about today's march
PSC Director @BenJamalpsc explains why we are marching for Palestine again in London today. Join us at Green Park at 12PM. 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/LrMcZSPO5m
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) March 15, 2025
Performing arts union Equity to join in today's march
10:01 , Shaun WilsonPerforming arts union Equity is also planning to join today’s pro-Palestine march, with members from its north and south London branches
Tomorrow 15 March, 11:30 we will be marching with @EquityUK @EquityNorthLdn membersjoining the National Demonstration @PSCupdates in solidarity with Palestine by the Diana Fountain in Green Park, a 3-minute walk from Green Park station in SW1A 1RD. pic.twitter.com/mh5KfzMFVs
— Equity London South Branch (@EquityLondonSth) March 14, 2025
Environmental groups support today's pro-Palestine march
08:51 , Shaun WilsonFriends of the Earth has tweeted in support of today’s pro-Palestine march
The Israeli government is again denying electricity, aid & water to Gaza.
— Friends of the Earth (@friends_earth) March 14, 2025
Join the Palestine solidarity demo, London, Sat 15 March – demand justice and an end to collective punishment.https://t.co/J5t9z8R3Xo
Meet 12pm, Piccadilly (Green Park). More info:https://t.co/0dPiHKcJk9
Group shares route map of today's protest
08:38 , Shaun WilsonA campaign group named Global Situation Awareness has shared a route map of today’s protest on X
#UK: Thousands expected for now monthly pro-Palestinian 'National Rally' march in #London 15March from #Piccadilly to #Whitehall. Previous march routes were not agreed + breached legal restraints resulting in arrests + clashes with police. Further incidents cannot be discounted pic.twitter.com/dd4V3y7oQ6
— Global Situational Awareness (@GlobalSituAware) March 14, 2025
Protest planned outside Tesla centre in London amid calls for boycott
08:20A protest is set to take place outside the Tesla centre in Park Royal, west London, urging people to boycott the car manufacturer over owner Elon Musk’s political ties and work for the US government.
Tesla has already faced a sharp drop in its share price this year, with growing competition from Chinese electric car makers and backlash over Musk’s links to US President Donald Trump and far-right causes.
Organisers are calling on Tesla owners to sell their cars and investors to offload their shares as part of the campaign.
Met Police on standby for clashes as pro-Palestine march and counter-protest takes place in central London
08:18 , Sami QuadriHundreds of police are ready to halt clashes as a mass pro-Palestinian protest and counter-demonstration takes place in central London.
Under the Palestine Coalition banner, “tens of thousands” are expected to assemble on Piccadilly, in the vicinity of Green Park Station, from midday on Saturday to demand an end to “Israel’s siege of Gaza”.
They will set off at 1pm via Haymarket towards Whitehall where a rally will take place.
A rival protest, organised by Stop the Hate, takes place in Coventry Street, just off of Piccadilly Circus.
The Metropolitan Police have imposed conditions under the Public Order Act on both protests.
