A group of protestors from Just Stop Oil appear to have been arrested at the King’s Coronation.
The protestors from the campaign group were seen in handcuffs on the Mall, as Police cordoned off the group.
The group has said approximately 13 demonstrators have been arrested on The Mall on Saturday ahead of the coronation.
A spokeswoman for the campaign group said five demonstrators were also arrested at Downing Street.
She told the PA news agency the group’s plan was “only to display T-shirts and flags”, adding: “This is a dystopian nightmare.”
It comes after a group of republicans also appeared to be arrested on Saturday morning.
Footage shared on Twitter appeared to show Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, being apprehended by police in St Martin’s Lane, Westminster.
A significant police operation is under way in central London. We have made a number of arrests in the area of Carlton House Terrace. The individuals have been held on suspicion of breaching the peace.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) May 6, 2023
Pictures seemed to show demonstrators in yellow “Not My King” T-shirts, including Mr Smith, having their details taken by officers.
After the apparent arrests, Republic activist Luke Whiting, 26, told the PA news agency: “Six Republic members have been arrested including the CEO as the demonstration was starting at the edge of Trafalgar Square.
“It is unclear why, potentially it is because one of them was carrying a megaphone.
“It is unclear exactly whether the police are using these new powers and whether they are misusing them to stop protest happening.”
A further three people were arrested in the area of Wellington Arch. They were held on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage. There will be further updates later today.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) May 6, 2023
In a statement on Twitter, the Metropolitan Police said: “A significant police operation is under way in central London.
“We have made a number of arrests in the area of Carlton House Terrace.
“The individuals have been held on suspicion of breaching the peace.
“Earlier today we arrested four people in the area of St Martin’s Lane.
“They were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
“We seized lock-on devices.
“A further three people were arrested in the area of Wellington Arch.
“They were held on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage.
“There will be further updates later today.”
Non-profit campaign group Human Rights Watch said the coronation arrests were “something you would expect to see in Moscow not London”.
Its UK director Yasmine Ahmed said in a statement: “The reports of people being arrested for peacefully protesting the coronation are incredibly alarming. This is something you would expect to see in Moscow not London.
“Peaceful protests allow individuals to hold those in power to account, something the UK government seems increasingly averse to.”
And human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, who was with the anti-monarchy protesters, said on Twitter: “Police arrest peaceful anti-monarchy protesters & have erected giant barriers to obscure pro-republic banners. Right to freely protest suppressed. Shame!”
The Metropolitan Police announced on Wednesday that they would have an “extremely low threshold” for protests during the coronation celebrations, and that demonstrators could expect “swift action”.
On Saturday, the policing operation is set to see 11,500 police officers on duty.
