TWENTY-THREE people have been arrested during a Black Lives Matter protest at the US Embassy in London as fury mounts over the death of George Floyd.
The Met Police confirmed the people were arrested during the protest on suspicion of a number of offences – including assaults on officers.
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It came as hundreds of activists gathered in the capital holding placards reading “racism has no place” and “no justice, no peace”.
Mr Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer was filmed kneeling on his neck in a now infamous video.
Protests have occurred in a number of US cities as activists clashed with police – with the demos now spreading to the UK.
In a statement, the Met Police said: “The arrests vary in offences from possession of an offensive weapon to assault on police, obstructing a public carriageway to breaches of Covid legislation.”
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It added those arrested were between the ages of 17 and 25.
Pictures show protesters being led away by cops today, while videos show scuffles between police and demonstrators.
In one clip, a group of police can be seen shouting “get back” while shoving a number of protesters before a traffic cone is hurled.
However, the protests were largely peaceful as many wore face masks as they stood in solidarity with Black Lives Matter marches taking place across the world.
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Placards waved by the demonstrators echoed the final words of Mr Floyd as he gasped “I can’t breathe”.
Anger is growing as demonstrations were also seen today in countries such as France, Germany and Denmark – as well as continuing in the US.
Mr Floyd’s death has renewed the focus on allegations of racism and police brutality in the US and across the globe.
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Meanwhile, footage showed protesters taking a knee for the 46-year-old in a move made famous by American football player Colin Kaepernick.Kaepernick famously knelt for Terence Crutcher and Keith Lamont Scott following their 2016 deaths at the hands of US police officers.
Other raised their fists in the air as they yelled “no justice, no peace” as they took a stand for Mr Floyd.
The protest started in Trafalgar Square before making its way across Westminster to the US Embassy in London.
Aerial shots showed hundreds of activists marching to the building flanked by police cars along the side of the road.
Other protests also took place across the UK – including in Manchester and Cardiff.
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Reverend Sally Hitchiner, associate vicar at St Martin-in-the-Fields church on Trafalgar Square, said she could see hundreds gathered for the protest from her workplace.She said: “I’m very sympathetic to the issue but also surprised to see the strength of emotion that has gathered people together.
“It’s showing there are people in the UK who care passionately about the situation in the US.
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“Clearly they’re not following lockdown and social distancing, but I think there’s a huge amount of passion there and that’s overriding their concerns.
“It’s an issue that requires passion but at the same time there’s a huge amount of risk in what they’re doing.”
She said police appeared to be moving the crowd on from the square by early afternoon.
Tens of thousands of people have joined nightly protests across the US since the death, with at least 1,600 people arrested in 22 cities as some demonstrations descended into violence.
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Police officer Derek Chauvin has been sacked and charged with third-degree murder following Mr Floyd’s death.
Earlier on Sunday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said video footage of Mr Floyd’s death was “very distressing”.
He declined to comment on US President Donald Trump’s response to the widespread protests.
Trump has been criticised after warning on Twitter that “looting leads to shooting”.
He later attempted to clarify his words by further tweeting on Friday: “Looting leads to shooting, and that’s why a man was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Wednesday night – or look at what just happened in Louisville with 7 people shot.
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“I don’t want this to happen, and that’s what the expression put out last night means.”
Mr Raab told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “I’m not going to start commenting on the commentary or indeed the press statements that other world leaders make, or indeed the US president.
“What we do know is that the lead suspect has now been charged with murder, there is a federal review and we want to see de-escalation of all of those tensions and American come together.”
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Video of Mr Floyd’s death has been viewed millions of times and has shocked the world.
In the clip, Mr Floyd is seen pinned to the ground by Chauvin, who has a knee across his neck.
Chauvin was detaining the 46-year-old on suspicion of forgery.
Mr Floyd is repeatedly heard saying he cannot not breathe, shouting “please, please” and “mama, mama”.
He then goes silent and appears to go limp as Chauvin continues to press his knee onto his neck.
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The dad-of-six – described as a “gentle giant” by his family – is then taken away by paramedics and was later pronounced dead.
Protests and outrage quickly took hold – which decided into widespread violence and destruction in Minneapolis, leading to the deployment of the National Guard and imposition of a curfew.
Four days later Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
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Mr Floyd’s family welcomed the arrest, but had hoped for a more serious charge.
They also wanted the other three officers involved – Thomas Lane, Tou Thao and J. Alexander Kueng – arrested as they failed to intervene.
Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said more charges were possible – and the investigation into the other three continues.
All four officers were fired from the force.
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Chauvin allegedly disregarded the concerns of another officer, who wanted to roll Mr Floyd onto his side, according to the criminal complaint.
The papers also said that an autopsy revealed nothing to support strangulation as the cause of death – instead blaming underlying health conditions.
Mr Floyd’s family are now seeking an independent autopsy, saying that the health problems cited in the official report are “an illusion”.
Chauvin is reportedly “effectively on suicide watch”, while video today showed New York cops driving their cruisers into a crowd of protesters as violence continues.
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