Metropolitan Police officers has been involved in a clash with flag-waving protesters as groups gathered down Whitehall to mark St George’s Day.
Footage shared by Scotland Yard showed around a dozen officers holding back a group of nationalists but around seven managed to breakthrough.
The Metropolitan Police, who confirmed six demonstrators were arrested, issued a statement about the incident after separate clips circulated on social media.
“The event is not due to start for an hour and regrettably officers are already dealing with disorder,” Scotland Yard said.
St George's Day event sees police clash with nationalist groups
METROPOLITAN POLICE
“There is an area allocated for this event in Richmond Terrace.
“This group went past it and continued up Whitehall.
“When officers formed a cordon and asked the group to turn round, they reacted by violently forcing their way through.
“Mounted officers intervened with horses to restore the cordon.”
Traffic has since reopened after officers managed to regain control of the situation.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
People wave the St George's flag as they attend a demonstration at Richmond Terrace
GETTY
The Metropolitan Police, who confirmed additional policing resources were flooded towards Whitehall, also warned the event will likely include “far right groups” and those linked to “football clubs”.
Police were forced to issue a Setion 60AA order to enable officers to take additional action to require the removal of face coverings.
Scotland Yard is also using additional search powers to prevent crime and disorder.
Former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is in Whitehall and is expected to speak at today’s event.
He was already in the capital having been acquitted of breaching a dispersal order while attending a pro-Israel protest on November 26 last year.
Scotland Yard is also using additional search powers to prevent crime and disorder
METROPOLITAN POLICE
However, some of the demonstrators were attending the event peacefully.
A man was spotted on the back of a horse while wearing a knight’s costume.
However, officers were accused of "two-tier" policing on social media over Scotland Yard's handling of pro-Palestine protests.
The Metropolitan Police came under fire over the weekend after Gideon Falter, who was wearing a kippah skull-cap, was threatened with arrest and told by police his presence was causing a "breach of peace".
