Six arrested as riot cops clash with crowds and police horse attacked at St George’s Day rally in London
Six people have been arrested as riot police have clashed with crowds gathering for St George’s Day in central London.
The Met has released shocking footage of officers being charged by revellers wearing the English flag at one rally in Whitehall today.
Cops announced this afternoon that four of the arrests came outside one boozer near the rally.
One person was arrested on suspicion of assault and three others on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.
The Met said in a post on social media: “Officers were quickly on scene and order has been restored.”
One photo showed crowds gathered outside The Clarence pub spilling out on the road on the Trafalgar Square end of Whitehall.
Footage was released by the constabulary at 2pm showing a group of men charging through a police line before the rally had started.
They said: “There is an area allocated for this event in Richmond Terrace. This group went past it and continued up Whitehall.
“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.”
Earlier a man was arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after a police horse was targeted on Whitehall.
One CCTV clip posted to social media showed an white police horse being hit with a long black pole.
Another man was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.
Other footage posted to social media showed men dressed as knights and others with the flag tied around their neck fighting with police.
Security minister Tom Tugendhat condemned the group which forced its way through the police line, saying: “These men aren’t patriots. They’re just thugs.”
Police said earlier today that they believed far right groups and groups linked to football clubs were attending the Richmond Terrace event.
The Met also used emergency regulations to require the removal of masks and also to grant officers additional search powers.
Meanwhile, London’s black cabbies have hit back at a “bonkers” ban imposed on flying English flags.
Transport for London does not allow black cab drivers to display any patriotic material, with the threat of losing their licence if they defy the rules.
The St George’s Cross is covered by the organisation’s regulations on putting signs and advertising in taxis, which is strictly prohibited.