A dozen arrests as hundreds attend Al-Quds Day rally in London

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered on the Albert Embankment in London on Sunday, March 15, 2026, for the annual Al-Quds Day rally, a show of solidarity with Palestinians. The event took place under new government restrictions prohibiting marches due to public disorder concerns related to the "volatile situation in the Middle East." Despite the ban, organizers proceeded with a static rally. Police deployed over 1,000 officers and made 12 arrests for offenses including supporting a proscribed organization and threatening behavior. Demonstrators waved Palestinian flags, chanted slogans, and held banners, some displaying images of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Hundreds of people participated in a banned pro-Palestinian march in London on Sunday, resulting in 12 arrests. The march was prohibited by the government due to concerns about potential public disorder, citing the organizers' alleged support for the Iranian regime amidst ongoing Middle East conflict. While a static demonstration was permitted, police separated pro-Palestinian protesters and counterprotesters on opposite sides of the River Thames near Parliament. Demonstrators waved flags and displayed signs criticizing Israeli actions in Gaza, referencing the response to the October 7, 2023 attacks. The ban marked the first time a protest march in London had been prohibited since 2012.