London Black Lives Matter protest: Demonstrations turn violent outside Downing Street as 13 people arrested

Police officer under attack - DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP
Police officer under attack - DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP

Thirteen people have been arrested as protests in London as part of the Black Lives Matter movement turned violent, with people hurling objects at police officers outside Downing Street.

Reports on the ground suggest that one policeman was punched in the face while dozens of people wearing face masks started scaling railings in Westminster.

The Met confirmed that, among those detained, two men have been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and violent disorder following an incident near Downing Street. They have been taken into custody.

Police also said social media rumours that The Cenotaph had been damaged during the protests were incorrect and that they "were not aware of any damage".

Several hundred protesters have been marching through the capital today in protest at the death of a black man in police custody in the US.

Demonstrations have been ongoing for eight days across the US following the death of George Floyd as police forces have been embroiled in allegations of police brutality against people of colour.

Mr Floyd died after a white officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck in Minneapolis on May 25, sparking days of protest.

These scenes have now crossed the Atlantic as British protesters blocked the Park Lane road by Hyde Park, stopping traffic including at least 10 double-decker buses before heading south.

Many protesters climbed onto sculptures and phone boxes, while others climbed on top of a cafe in Speakers' Corner.

Thousands of protesters in Hyde Park make social distancing difficult

Thousands of protesters are now gathered in Hype Park in solidarity with protests in the US.

The central London demonstration started at 1pm, with people heading to the park in crowds and chanting "no justice, no peace".

Demonstrators could be seen handing out masks and gloves to help stop the spread of the coronavirus during the protests. Police chiefs have expressed concern that the gatherings would make it difficult to maintain social distancing.

 

Star Wars actor John Boyega's rousing speech

Star Wars actor John Boyega has made an emotional speech in London's Hyde Park over the death of George Floyd.

The film star, 28, told fellow demonstrators gathered for a Black Lives Matter protest he was "speaking to you from my heart".

The British actor referenced two other black Americans who controversially died in the US, as well as the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence in London in 1993.

Actor John Boyega delivers a speech during a Black Lives Matter protest in Hyde Park - Justin Setterfield/Getty
Actor John Boyega delivers a speech during a Black Lives Matter protest in Hyde Park - Justin Setterfield/Getty

He said: "We are a physical representation of our support for George Floyd.

"We are a physical representation of our support for Sandra Bland. We are a physical representation of our support for Trayvon Martin. We are a physical representation of our support for Stephen Lawrence."

He added: "I'm speaking to you from my heart. Look, I don't know if I'm going to have a career after this, but f--- that.

"Today is about innocent people who were halfway through their process, we don't know what George Floyd could have achieved, we don't know what Sandra Bland could have achieved, but today we're going to make sure that won't be an alien thought to our young ones."

Boyega - who addressed masses of people wearing face masks and holding banners in Hyde Park - had said he did not want to "work in fear" when in the US as he addressed the unrest in an Instagram post.

Boris Johnson - who said in the Commons on Wednesday Floyd's death was "inexcusable" - has faced calls to review sales of riot control equipment to the United States.