Protesters have jumped the fence and infiltrated the London Marathon running track during the elite men's race, forcing stewards to rugby tackle the activists on Tower Bridge.
Activists from Youth Demand stormed the landmark, throwing bright pink powder across the road just as the elite runners made their way over the River Thames.
Photos from the scene show stewards tackling the protesters and escorting them away from the course.
Writing on their X account, the "environmental activist and political activist group" said two of their members "jumped the barriers at Tower Bridge and sat down in front of the men's elite race at the London Marathon, wearing 'Stop Arming Israel' T-shirts."
The activists stormed the landmark, throwing bright pink powder across the road
YOUTH DEMAND INSTAGRAM
"Gaza is running out of food. Arming genocide crosses the line. We won't be bystanders."
A statement from the Met Police on X reads: "At around 10:38hrs, two protesters from Youth Demand jumped over barriers at Tower Bridge and threw red paint onto the road.
"Marathon event staff intervened to remove the protesters from the path of the men’s elite race which was able to pass unobstructed."
"He was quickly supported by police officers who arrested the protesters on suspicion of causing a public nuisance.
"They remain in custody. The paint appears to be chalk-based and is not expected to present a hazard to runners yet to pass this point."
The group previously vowed to "shut down London" this month, asking for donations to support their cause.
They said: "We must resist and force Keir Starmer’s Government and all complicit organisations to enforce a complete trade embargo on Israel."
"To be able to shut London down for a month, we need your help. Donate to our crowdfunder now to fuel the youth resistance."
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The pair have reportedly been arrested by City of London Police
YOUTH DEMAND INSTAGRAM
Last year, the group sprayed the Ministry of Defence in paint, vowing this year to continue with an even bigger "civil disobedience campaign".
One of the protesters today was quoted by the group as saying: "I am taking action with Youth Demand because I have run out of other options: thousands are being killed in Gaza, our Government is making no effort to stop it and no other course of action, marches or rallies, has worked. I refuse to be complicit in a genocide funded by our politicians."
The other was quoted as saying: "I’m taking action today at the London marathon because the people in Palestine are running out of time.
"We have tried all other avenues to get the Government to stop arming Israel and yet our Government is still enabling a genocide.
"They are making the UK people complicit in breaking UK domestic law by using our taxes to arm a genocidal state, breaking humanitarian international law."
The incident occurred shortly after runners began the 45th TCS London Marathon
PA
The incident occurred shortly after runners began the 45th TCS London Marathon.
Among those taking part are celebrities, MPs, and the fathers of two girls who were killed in the Southport attack.
Today, more than 56,000 participants are expected to tackle the 26.2-mile course across the capital, with temperatures rising to 22C.
As the elite wheelchair, men's, and women's races progressed, runners in the mass race also set off.
