Anti-monarchy mob get arrested before Coronation’s even started
Anti-monarchy proteststers arriving in the capital with a truck laden with ‘not my king’ banners appear to have been detained by police. Footage posted on Twitter seemed to show demonstrators in yellow “Not My King” t-shirts being arrested by police, with one officer saying: “They are under arrest, end of.”
On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police announced they would have an “extremely low threshold” for protests during the coronation celebrations, and that demonstrators could expect “swift action”.
Today several people have been arrested on suspicion of offences including breaching the peace and conspiracy to cause public nuisance close to the coronation, Scotland Yard said.
Tweets from the Alliance of European Republican Movements appear to show the CEO of Republic, Graham Smith, having his details being taken and being arrested as part of the police activity.
Republic activist Luke Whiting, 26, claimed “six” activists had been arrested.
He said: “Six Republic members have been arrested including the CEO as the demonstration was starting at the edge of Trafalgar Square. It is unclear why, potentially it is because one of them was carrying a megaphone.
“It is unclear exactly whether the police are using these new powers and whether they are misusing them to stop protest happening.”
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Nearly 2,000 people are expected at ‘Not My King’ protests in Trafalgar Square which sits along the Coronation procession route.
One woman in a Republic T-shirt who was arrested said: “We had a delivery of placards ready for the protest and then the tactical support unit questioned us as to how we we had got through the road closures.
“They questioned whether what we were doing was a delivery. They then said they found evidence of means of locking on, of items that could be used to lock on, and they arrested us.”
Officers carried her away from where she had been standing outside a Tesco store.
Two men who appeared to have been part of the same demonstration were carried away by officers into a marked police van.
Taking to Twitter former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell said: “This is totally at odds with the British values of which we Will be hearing a huge amount today. It will backfire as did the chorus of millions. And is totally unnecessary.
“It’s what happens when the police take their lead from political messaging.”
According to TalkTV intelligence reports indicated as well as protesters gathering in Trafalgar Square, aother section had planned to disupt the Mall.
The channel tweeted: “A security source has told TalkTV that police have intelligence that protesters have come to The Mall with glue in a bid to disrupt the King’s procession to Westminster Abbey.”
A massive security operation is underway to ensure the Coronation goes smoothly today with 11,500 police officers on duty.
Prior to the beginning of the service, the King and Queen will travel from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey with the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.
The ceremony will begin at 11am, and is set to last for two hours. It will be followed by the Coronation Procession, during which the King and Queen will be joined by other senior royals, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children.
Following their arrival at the Palace by carriage, the next big event will be the RAF flypast shortly after 2pm, with senior working royals stepping out onto the balcony.
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The event will bring together around 100 heads of state, kings and queens from across the globe, celebrities, everyday heroes and family and friends of the couple, with Charles’ estranged son the Duke of Sussex expected to attend.
Invited guests include David and Victoria Beckham, musician Lionel Richie, French President Emmanuel Macron, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US First Lady Jill Biden but her husband President Joe Biden will not be attending.
The day will be a display of pomp and pageantry, with the nation’s Armed Forces promising a “spectacular” event when the King and Queen process through the streets of the capital.
The event is the military’s largest ceremonial operation since Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation, with 9,000 servicemen and women deployed and 7,000 of these performing ceremonial and supporting roles.
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Several people have been arrested on suspicion of offences including breaching the peace and conspiracy to cause public nuisance close to the coronation, Scotland Yard said.
In a statement on Twitter, the force said: “A significant police operation is under way in central London. We have made a number of arrests in the area of Carlton House Terrace.
“The individuals have been held on suspicion of breaching the peace. Earlier today we arrested four people in the area of St Martin’s Lane.
“They were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance. We seized lock-on devices. A further three people were arrested in the area of Wellington Arch.
“They were held on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage. There will be further updates later today.”
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