MET Police. Photo: Alex Segre / Shutterstock.com The Metropolitan Police have imposed strict conditions on a student march planned for central London on Wednesday, October 7, which coincides with the third anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.
The demonstration is expected to begin near King’s College London in the Strand and end at University College London in Russell Square. Police said the conditions were imposed under the Public Order Act to prevent serious disruption and manage the event.
Participants must form up in a designated area of Lincoln’s Inn Fields by 12:30 p.m. and remain there until the procession begins. The march must start by 12:30 p.m. and follow a prescribed route through Remnant Street, Kingsway, Southampton Row and Russell Square.
Once at Russell Square, participants must remain within the designated rally area. The post-march assembly must end by 2 p.m., when those attending will be required to disperse.
The Met has also prohibited anyone taking part in the form-up assembly, procession or rally from wearing a face covering that conceals their identity. Police warned that anyone breaching the conditions could be arrested.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the event was taking place on a date that would be significant for many people in London, particularly Jewish communities.
“This will be a day of mourning and reflection for many in London,” Harman said, adding that the police were aware of the concerns the event had caused.
He said officers would have “zero tolerance” for hate crime and that people chanting or displaying placards calling for intifada or encouraging unlawful extremism would be arrested.
The Met said it had been urged in recent days to seek a ban on the student march. However, Harman said police do not have the power to ban protests themselves and can only ask the Home Secretary to prohibit a procession when the risk of serious disorder is so high that it cannot be managed through conditions.
According to the Met, that threshold has not been met in this case.
Police also addressed questions about whether the march itself is illegal because an organiser has not yet been identified. Under Section 11 of the Public Order Act, organisers of certain processions are required to provide their name and address to police.
The Met said it had identified groups involved in organising the event through social media but had not identified an individual willing to formally accept responsibility as organiser.
The force said it would consider potential Section 11 offences once an organiser has been identified.
A separate student protest is also planned at Marble Arch between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. on October 7.
The Met said conditions would be imposed requiring that demonstration to take place away from Marble Arch, citing concerns about people attending nearby synagogues.
Police said further details of those conditions would be published later.