Police cannot ban pro-Palestine march on anniversary of 7 October attacks, Met says

Police have imposed strict conditions on a pro-Palestine march planned for the third anniversary of Hamas's 7 October attacks - but have said they cannot ban it.

The University of London Coalition - a group which brings together students from universities across the capital - has urged its members to "take to the street" on Wednesday and "demand an end to the Palestinian genocide".

The Metropolitan Police has asked demonstrators to take a prescribed route to Russell Square from Lincoln's Inn Fields and complete the rally by 2pm.

Officers have warned that any demonstrators wearing face coverings which conceal their identities could be arrested.

Police tried to make contact with the group but could not find specific individuals "prepared to accept that they are the organiser of this demonstration".

Last week, the Met said it had asked organisers to move the protest to a different day on four occasions, and wrote to the relevant universities asking them to take steps to ensure Jewish students and staff did not "feel excluded, targeted or unsafe".

Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman, who leads public order policing for the Met, said: "I would like to take this opportunity - again - to call on anyone intending to join this march to please reflect on the impact and distress it will cause on this very significant date, and exercise your right to protest on a different day."

He went on: "We hear the calls for this event to be banned. The police cannot ban protests and can only ask the Home Secretary to do so if the risk of serious disorder is so high that it can't be managed by conditions. That high bar is not met here."

Education Secretary Lucy Powell called on the organisers "to show compassion and respect for others" by moving the protest to another date.

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She went on: "The anniversary of October 7 will bring immense pain to Jewish communities across the country, and they should be able to remember those affected by the attacks free from intimidation, harassment, or abuse - including on university campuses."

Another student protest is planned at Marble Arch on Wednesday afternoon.

Police will impose separate conditions on the demonstration and share more details this afternoon.

(c) Sky News 2026: Police cannot ban pro-Palestine march on anniversary of 7 October attacks, Met says