Police arrest anti-Monarchy protestors ahead of King Charles coronation

#shorts #kingcharles #coronation

Six people have been arrested after organising an anti-monarchy protest to disrupt the King’s coronation procession, including the head of the UK’s leading republican movement.

Graham Smith, the chief executive of Republic, and five others were detained by the police on the Strand in central London at around 7.30am on Saturday.

They had been distributing drinks and placards for demonstrators near Trafalgar Square, where anti-monarchy protesters have been gathering ahead of the ceremony.

It is understood that Mr Smith and the rest of the group had been walking behind a rental van full of hundreds of placards when they were stopped by police.

i understands that their placards were seized before they were even out of the packaging.

The Metropolitan Police tweeted earlier this week that officers would have a “low tolerance” of those seeking to “undermine” the King’s coronation day.

Nick Aldworth, national co-ordinator for UK counter-terrorism policing until 2019, said the Met’s fast response team would be on hand to ensure demonstrators who glued or chained themselves to the road were swiftly dealt with.

Hundreds of protesters wearing yellow t-shirts and placards reading “Not My king” have been spotted since crowds started gathering for the royal event early this morning.

Along the Mall, members of the public booed every time an anti-royal placard was seen waving in the air.

As many as 2,000 protesters are expected to assemble below Nelson’s column by midday including representatives of the Swedish, Dutch and Norwegian republican movements.

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