More than 50 people suspected of planning to disrupt coronation arrested
ANTI-monarchists and eco-zealots suspected of planning to disrupt the Coronation were among at least 52 people arrested today.
The head of anti-royalist group Republic, Graham Smith, was among six held at Trafalgar Square as they tried to unveil placards.
Also held was Patrick Thelwell, 23, who was convicted of flinging eggs at King Charles in York in November last year.
Hundreds of protesters were there, chanting “Not my King”.
But they were shouted down by patriotic royalists chanting back: “He’s my King”.
Republic director Henry Stratton said: “They were carrying placards that were saying ‘not my King’ when around 20 police said ‘we are stopping you and we are searching you’.
“After that they arrested them saying ‘we are seizing all these placards’ and Graham said ‘why are you arresting us?’”
In one video an officer said: “I’m not going to get into a conversation about that, they are under arrest, end of.”
Police earlier arrested 14 people from Just Stop Oil in East London in a planned swoop.
Others were held in The Mall, Whitehall and along the procession route.
Most arrests were for conspiracy to cause public nuisance and to prevent a breach of the peace.
One man was held on suspicion of possessing a knife and drugs in The Mall and another for sexual assault in Trafalgar Square.
Campaign group Liberty said the arrests “set a dangerous precedent for us as a democratic nation”.
The Met hailed the success of their policing operation.