Pro-Palestinian protesters held sit-in protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza at major UK train stations on Saturday afternoon, including at Waterloo.
At least five protesters were arrested at Waterloo, said police, while other small sit in protests were held at Manchester Victoria and Leeds station.
The British Transport Police issued Section 14a orders prohibiting protests on Saturday at many of London's main rail stations from 10am to 11pm.
Sit in protest demanding a ceasefire at Waterloo station. Police have threatened to arrest everyone present. This is Britain in 2023. pic.twitter.com/AXqVaYZyDP
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) November 18, 2023
But shortly after 2.30pm the force posted on Twitter that a group of approximately 200 protesters had arrived at London Bridge station, which dispersed within five minutes.
Around 4pm, the force said crowds had also started to gather at Waterloo station. “Anyone breaching the s14a order in place is committing an offence and will be arrested," the force said.
Around 100 pro-Palestinian protesters sat in the centre of Waterloo station and chanted “ceasefire now".
Protesters were removed from the station by police, with at least five arrested. No rail services were disrupted.
The Met Police said the protesters made their way to Parliament Square, with the force saying the group was also partially made up of Just Stop Oil demonstrators who earlier held a march.
The force issued a dispersal order and said ten arrests were made throughout Saturday's protests, including a "prominent JSO activist."
"Today we made 10 arrests - four in relation to the JSO protest and six in relation to the pro-Palestinian protests," said the force.
"Offences include breach of bail conditions, public order, racially aggravated public order, inciting racial hatred, affray and obstruction."
A similar protest took place at Waterloo - Britain’s busiest train station - at the end of October.
