Following a demonstration conducted in front of the Eritrean Embassy in north London, a crowd armed with homemade weapons engaged in street combat. Police made a “number” of arrests at the location.
After violence broke out on the streets this afternoon, emergency personnel converged in large numbers on Islington.
Pictures and video show a sizable throng congregating near Angel Station on White Lion Street.
A number of the group members are seen fighting while brandishing poles and other improvised weapons.
Buses were being held up in the street by the crowds, and shouting could be heard from them.
According to the Met Police, the incident started out as a peaceful protest before a different, “large group” arrived.
Before many people were detained, this developed into a “confrontation” in which people shouted at police officers as they passed by.
Some people in the crowd shouted “stop” while holding their hands in the air, crossed at the wrist.
Other protesters sat in the street, preventing passing traffic.
A row of police officers could be seen standing next to the crowd in video footage taken at the scene.
Later, with the group pushing against police, the protesters stood close to the line, shouting and raising their hands in the air once more.
Police officers moved the protesters back as the pushing intensified and the police line broke.
The crowd kept chanting and shouting as police tried to clear the street so that traffic could move through safely.
At least one individual in the crowd was seen waving an Eritrean flag, and the disorder is close to the Eritrean Embassy.
Officers were then seen pushing protesters back along the street while yelling “get back” and trying to disperse the crowd.
Martin Plaut, a former BBC journalist and expert on Africa, had previously promoted a demonstration against Eritrea’s annexation of the nation’s northern Tigray area outside the Eritrean Embassy.
According to a statement from the Metropolitan Police, officers were alerted to allegations of a disturbance outside the Eritrean embassy in White Lion Street, Islington, at approximately 13:35 on Sunday, September 4.
A sizable group approached the peaceful demonstrators as they were approaching the scene of the event.
Then a confrontation between several people started. Officers arrived and divided the parties. Police officers are still present and keeping an eye on the situation.
“Several arrests have been made for public order offences and willful blockage of the traffic.” No significant injuries have been mentioned in any reports.
A section 35 dispersion order covering the area has been placed in place until 13:59 on Monday, 5 September.
For the N1 and EC1 postcodes, a section 60 order has been placed in place, giving police further search authority. This order expires at 23:50 on Sunday, September 4.