Five protesters have been arrested during rival demonstrations outside a Bob Vylan concert in North London, with one detention made specifically for chants referencing the Israel Defense Forces.
Clashes Outside O2 Forum
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests took place during two separate protests outside the O2 Forum in Kentish Town on Tuesday evening, November 11. The demonstrations coincided with punk band Bob Vylan's performance at the venue.
Police had issued a Public Order Act ahead of the events, imposing strict conditions that required both protests to conclude by 9:30pm. Officers remained at the scene throughout the evening as tensions flared between the opposing groups.
Breakdown of Arrests
According to police statements, one individual from the Stop the Hate protest was arrested on suspicion of common assault following an altercation with another protester. In a separate incident, a man from the pro-Palestine demonstration was detained in relation to chants referencing the IDF.
Three additional arrests were made for breaching Public Order Act conditions - two participants from the Stop the Hate protest and one from the pro-Palestine gathering.
Police Preparation and Response
The Metropolitan Police had prepared extensively for the planned demonstrations, implementing strict geographical boundaries for each group. A police spokesperson stated before the events: "We're aware of two planned protests and we've imposed Public Order Act conditions to prevent serious disruption and serious disorder."
The Stop the Hate protest was confined to the blue area in Fortess Walk, while the Palestine Coalition and associated groups were restricted to the orange area in Highgate Road. Both demonstrations were required to disperse by 9:30pm under the imposed conditions.
This incident comes months after Bob Vylan's frontman publicly warned fans against chanting against the Israeli military during performances, expressing concern that such actions could get him in "trouble." The band has found itself unexpectedly drawn into international political tensions through their concert events.
