No, a man was not arrested for holding an anti-Hamas placard at London protest

By: Emmi Kivi
March 14 2024

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(Source: X/Instagram/ Screenshot/ Edited by Logically Facts)

Context

A video showing a man being arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London is circulating on social media. Online users have shared the footage with the claim that the man was arrested for having a "Hamas is terrorist" placard at the demonstration. The footage was shared with captions like: "A man carrying a 'HAMAS ARE TERRORISTS' sign….is arrested and dragged to the floor by the police. Also fully handcuffed." 

Another user made a similar claim: "Police ARREST a man who held up a sign that simply reiterates the Government’s official position: that Hamas is a terrorist organization. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this happen - the Met Police have serious questions to answer."

However, the Metropolitan Police (MET) confirmed that the man was arrested for an assault during the protest, not because he had an anti-Hamas sign.

In fact

On March 9, The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) organized a protest in which thousands of pro-Palestine protesters marched in central London, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. 

The MET told Logically Facts, "A video has been posted on X alleging officers arrested a man for having an anti-Hamas placard. This isn’t accurate. He was arrested after an altercation was ongoing, and officers intervened to prevent a breach of the peace. He was arrested for assault. The arrest was not made in relation to the placard." 

A similar statement was posted on the MET's X account on March 9.

Metropolitan Police X post published March 9. (Source: X/ Screenshot/ Edited by Logically Facts)

On the same day, the MET also issued an update on their website stating that five people were arrested, but there was "no significant public order disturbance" in any of the 11 major events taking place that day. 

According to the update, "during the main pro-Palestinian protest march, a further man was arrested for assault during an altercation between protesters and counter-protesters in order to prevent a breach of the peace."

Logically Facts discovered more extended footage of the incident showing a brawl between the man holding the sign and a few other protestors holding a "Stop bombing Gaza" sign.

"After officers fully reviewed footage provided of the incident, he was later de-arrested. Despite online commentary, he was not arrested for what was displayed on a placard," the MET update affirmed. 

Hamas is proscribed as a terrorist organization in the U.K. 

The verdict

A man was not arrested for having an anti-Hamas placard at a pro-Palestinian protest. The Metropolitan Police affirmed that the man was arrested for assault after an altercation between protesters and counter-protesters. Therefore, we have marked the claim as misleading.