St George's Day rally Riot Cops Clash with Crowds as Police Horse is Attacked Near Downing Street from rally frenche Watch Video

⏲ Duration: 1:35
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✓ Published: 23-Apr-2024

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A St George's Day rally in London descended into chaos today as riot officers clashed with crowds and a police horse was attacked near Downing Street. <br/><br/>Mounted police intervened after a group broke through a cordon formed to stop people moving past the area that had been allocated for the event. <br/><br/>This led to scuffles breaking out, with footage appearing to show one of the horses being struck by a man with an umbrella. <br/><br/>The melee happened just before the main rally at 3 pm, where Tommy Robinson and Laurence Fox joined crowds singing along to songs including Sweet Caroline. <br/><br/>The Met said officers were forced to respond when a group 'violently' forced through police blockades. <br/><br/>But it prompted claims of 'two-tier policing', with critics suggesting pro-Palestine marchers were treated more favorably. <br/><br/>The Met shared a video that appears to show officers forming a cordon but a group, some waving flags and others wearing St George's flags, pushing past it before two mounted officers on horses intervene.<br/><br/>A spokesman said: 'The event is not due to start for an hour and regrettably officers are already dealing with disorder.<br/><br/>'There is an area allocated for this event in Richmond Terrace. This group went past it and continued up Whitehall.<br/><br/>'When officers formed a cordon and asked the group to turn round, they reacted by violently forcing their way through. Mounted officers intervened with horses to restore the cordon.'<br/><br/>The Met said no further incidents had been reported at the rally, which passed off peacefully. <br/><br/>Among those giving speeches were Tommy Robinson, former leader of the English Defence League, while Laurence Fox - leader of The Reclaim Party - was also in attendance.