Moment Just Stop Oil activists are carried away by police as they join sit-in with pro-Palestine protesters at Waterloo station

Just Stop Oil activists were carried away in droves by police during a mass sit-in protest with pro-Palestine protesters at Waterloo station.

The environmental activists, which aims to pressure the Government into abandoning fossil fuel once and for all, were part of the 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators who were at London's Waterloo station to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

The JSO X account posted: 'Sit in protest demanding a ceasefire at Waterloo station. Police have threatened to arrest everyone present. This is Britain in 2023.' 

The page also posted videos of its members being carried away from the station by police. 

In one video, a female activist is carried out by three officers and says to the camera: 'I will not be complicit with a genocidal government. Thousands of children are getting murdered. 

'What are you doing? Why aren't you here sitting down in the station? It's easier then going on a march with a million people. Do something.' 

In another video, a man in orange jacket is searched by police, whilst saying: 'I was just simply sitting there shouting for something clear and obvious, which is for a ceasefire'

The camera holder asks an officer why he has been arrested, to which the cooper claims he doesn't have to say, before asking a group of people to move away.

In the same video, another person is dragged out on their knees by police, as fellow protestors say 'thank you ' to them. 

In a third clip, footage shows a man with glasses being carried out of the station by two police officers, he can be heard saying: 'We demand a ceasefire. We will not let the Palestinians be treated like animals. They are people and they deserve to live.'

The group could be heard chanting 'Free, free Palestine'; 'Sit down, join us'; and 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' as they protested in the centre of the station.

Police officers surrounded the protesters before they were escorted from the station, with at least two demonstrators carried from the scene.

British Transport Police (BTP) said five protesters were arrested at Waterloo station and no train services were affected.

The Met Police said its officers had made 10 arrests - including pro-Palestinian and JSO protesters.

BTP Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan said: 'In line with our strategy, protesters were issued notices and announcements were made over station sound systems before officers moved to the arrest stage.

'The vast majority of protesters left peacefully, however five arrests were made at a large protest at Waterloo station.'

 A group of demonstrators who were removed from the station then made their way to Westminster Bridge where they sat in the road before moving to Parliament Square, the Metropolitan Police said.

The force said on X, formerly Twitter: 'We believe the group in Parliament Square is a mix of pro-Palestinian protesters and JSO (Just Stop Oil) activists.

'We have arrested a prominent JSO activist from within the group. We have a significant number of officers ready to respond if there is further disruption in the road.'

On previous weekends thousands of protesters and counter-protesters have converged on the capital.

However, the movement's presence was more muted in London on Saturday, with protesters split across more than 100 smaller rallies around the nation.

London hosted 10 events, including rallies in Islington, Camden and Tower Hamlets.

Pro-Palestine protesters targeted a string of stores across Manchester on Saturday including McDonald's and Starbucks as gatherings in London threatened to turn ugly following a day of more than 100 protests around the UK.

Photographs from Manchester showed a line of police officers standing outside McDonald's in Oxford Street as a group of men, some wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves, held up a Palestine flag and pushed up against the officers.

Protesters also targeted a Pret-A-Manger and Starbucks coffee shops, with a sign showing the Starbucks store was shut due to 'unforeseen circumstances'.

Elsewhere, a pro-Palestinian demo assembled outside Downing Street amid an ongoing 'day of action' by pro-Palestinian activists that has seen police issue dispersal orders following unrest on Whitehall.

British Transport Police officers arrested at least five people at a sit-in at London Waterloo after they refused to leave the station despite an order banning public assemblies being enacted. 

The protestors in Manchester claimed that Pret and Starbucks are supporting Israel by opening outlets in the country. Video taken from this afternoon's march shows protestors shouting 'shame on you' and 'boycott Pret' outside the store.

Others pressed carboard banners on the windows of the café at the junction of Oxford Street and Portland Street. Police officers atended the scene and ordered the protestors to move away from the area.

Demonstrators also shouted 'shame' as they passed a Starbucks on Peter Street. Another branch of Starbucks on Deansgate was closed 'due to unforeseen circumstances', according to a note posted on the front door.

The reason for the closure is not yet known.

Thousands of people are estimated to have attended the latest demonstration in the city, which have been held for the past few weeks. Those behind the protest, organised by the Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, are calling held to call for an immediate ceasefire to the conflict.

In London, The Metropolitan Police shared a CCTV image of protesters gathered on Whitehall opposite the entrance to the prime minister's official residence in one of more than 100 demos taking place across the country today. 

Outside Downing Street, videos shared on social media purported to show small scuffles between police officers and protesters, as officers rushed to separate arguing activists. 

The Met Police said two men in balaclavas were spotted in the area, 'appearing to watch the group of pro-Palestinian protesters' before being 'encouraged to leave'. 

At 6.40pm, the force issued a Section 35 Dispersal Order until 11pm across Westminster, meaning that anyone who refuses to leave when asked to do so by an officer can be arrested. 

At Waterloo, the British Transport Police confirmed it had arrested five protesters before dispersing the sit-in to outside the station.

'A large number of police officers remain in attendance to maintain order,' a statement added. 

The Met Police said those dispersed from the station made their way to Westminster Bridge where they 'sat in the road', before moving when officers approached to Parliament Square.

The force added the group 'is a mix of pro-Palestinian protesters and JSO activists', saying it had arrest one 'prominent' Just Stop Oil member.

By 7.30pm, police said all protesters had dispersed. The force added it had arrested six people in relation to pro-Palestine protests and four related to JSO protests throughout the day for offences including breach of bail conditions, public order, racially aggravated public order, inciting racial hatred, affray and obstruction.

It comes as protesters held sit-in protests at major UK train stations despite increased policing across railway networks.

The BTP deployed enhanced officer patrols in England, Scotland and Wales on Saturday.

Footage shared on social media showed a small crowd sitting on the floor in Manchester Victoria Station, while the force confirmed another group of around 25 had done the same at Leeds station shortly after 2pm.

BTP issued Section 14a orders prohibiting protests on Saturday at many of London's main rail stations from 10am to 11pm, but shortly after 2.30pm the force posted on X that a group of approximately 200 protesters had arrived at London Bridge station in the English capital.

A police cordon was also put in place around London Bridge, but five minutes later they posted again to say the group had left the area and passengers could access the station as usual.

McDonald's was targeted by some pro-Palestine protesters on Saturday because its Israeli franchise has been offering free food to soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Other Middle Eastern franchised have distanced themselves from the move, while McDonald's global parent company has distanced itself from taking any stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

It told the BBC: 'McDonald's Corporation is not funding or supporting any governments involved in this conflict, and any actions from our local developmental licensee business partners were made independently without McDonald's consent or approval.'

However, people have taken extreme measures to express their distaste with the fast food chain, releasing mice painted in the colours of the Palestinian flag into restaurants in the UK. 

The gatherings came as protesters in north London assembled outside Keir Starmer's parliamentary office and chanted 'Keir Starmer's a wasteman' and 'What do we want? A ceasefire. When do we want it? Now'. 

Others held up signs saying 'Stop the war on Gaza' as they massed outside the Labour leader's office days after he ordered Labour MPs not to show support for an SNP amendment to the King's Speech calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The packed road was filled with Palestinian flags, with further placards reading: 'save Gaza's kids' and: 'no justice, no peace.'

Protesters held signs saying 'Who the f*** doesn't vote for a ceasefire?' and 'Starmer shame on you' as they walked through Camden. 

John Rees, national officer for the Stop the War Coalition, told crowds: 'My message to Keir Starmer is this. One, you are a wasteman. Two, get with the programme, demand a ceasefire now.'

The crowds also heard from 33-year-old Palestinian Nida Badawi, who told crowds: 'I know we're restless. For the past 40 days, over 40 days, I feel like my heart's been ripped out of my body.

'I'm just here to remind you while we're standing here, it's not the time to stay quiet. They need to hear our voices.'

Protesters also gathered outside the office of Harrow East Conservative MP Bob Blackman, who voted against a motion calling for a ceasefire in Gaza earlier this week. Other MPs' offices were targeted in recent days.

Protesters defied orders by the British Transport Police to stay away from transport hubs and staged protests at both London Bridge and Waterloo stations. 

BTP officers have moved in to disperse protesters, handing them leaflets to inform them that they will be arrested if they refuse to leave.

Shortly after 4.30pm - the deadline given to protesters to leave Waterloo - the force said on X, formerly Twitter: 'Following engagement with protest liaison officers, protestors are refusing to leave Waterloo station as agreed. Therefore we are moving to arrest phase.' 

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters have began marching from outside Chalk Farm station in north London as part of the day of national action.

Elsewhere, thousands of protesters marched in Newcastle to call for a ceasefire, while an estimated 18,000 people protested on a rainy day in Glasgow.

Members of Scottish Labour, the SNP and the Scottish Greens were among those to address the crowd on Glasgow Green.

SNP MP Anum Qaisar said: '11,000 people have been massacred in Gaza, almost half of whom are children. Over 1,000 people killed in Israel by the atrocious attack by Hamas.

'These numbers are rising and they will continue to rise daily unless there's an immediate ceasefire.'

But amid scenes earlier this week of police simply standing by as pro-Palestinian activists climbed the Royal Artillery Memorial in Hyde Park, Met Commander Karen Findlay says officers have been told to take stronger action.

As well as making 'expectations clear' to police on the ground to take decisive action, she has told protesters who climb memorials that they could be liable for criminal damage charges.

Footage of the Hyde Park incident on Wednesday sparked anger amid the police response - with officers simply standing by and watching as one of them politely asked a man to come down, making no moves to arrest him. 

Commander Findlay said: 'We have made our expectations clear to officers who will be on duty this weekend. 

'At a minimum they are to intervene decisively when they see behaviour which is obviously disrespectful, using their skills in dealing with the public as they do every day.

'They will be looking to take positive action, including arrests, as soon as disrespectful behaviour becomes disorderly behaviour of the sort covered by a number of public order offences.

'They will also intervene where necessary to prevent a breach of the peace.

'Protesters intent on climbing over memorials and other monuments should also keep in mind that they weren't designed for this purpose, making them prone to damage which will likely constitute a criminal offence.

'There is clear legislation in place to deal with damage of any sort, even if it is minimal or was caused recklessly and not intentionally.'

However, the Met commander admitted that policing people who climb war memorials would be a 'challenge' for officers - because there is no explicit law that makes the action unlawful.

She has called on pro-Palestinian marchers to show respect and to adhere to the law, warning that 'hate crime will not be tolerated'. Met resources will be heavily deployed in areas with large Jewish and Muslim communities.

Commander Findlay added: 'Regrettably, while the majority of protesters coming out in recent weeks have been peaceful, we have continued to see people taking part in offensive chanting or intentionally carrying placards that cross the line from political statements into racially or religiously aggravated offences.

'By all means come out and protest to make your voice heard as is your right, but if your aim is to offend, to incite hatred, or to cause fear and intimidation then you should stay away.'

Rather than a huge march in London, as has been seen in recent weeks with thousands of protesters converging on the capital, the Day of Action for Palestine has seen more than 100 events take place in different parts of the UK on Saturday.

Meanwhile, the British Transport Police (BTP) has banned protests on Saturday at many of London's main rail stations, anticipating that demonstrations at the country's busiest transport hubs could cause severe disruption.

Ahead of the protests, a vigil was held at Downing Street on Friday to mourn the civilians and healthcare workers killed in Israel's relentless bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip over recent weeks.

Israel began strikes on the enclave after the October 7 atrocities by Palestinian terror group Hamas, which saw 1,200 killed.

The Palestinian death toll has surpassed 12,000, including 5,000 children, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said on Friday. 

Dolls were laid in front of the Prime Minister's residence to highlight the number of children and babies killed in the bloody war, while protesters also held aloft placards with the names of medics who have lost their lives while trying to save others.

Furious protesters have been calling for a ceasefire for weeks, and now protests will grip the country as part of a coordinated day of action which will involve trade unionists.

Labour was left in chaos this week as MPs faced pressure from members and pro-Palestinian activists to back a vote for a ceasefire in Gaza, especially after 19 shadow ministers defied the leadership to speak in favour of a ceasefire. 

In the end, ten frontbenchers and 46 other Labour MPs sided with the SNP amendment to the King's Speech which demanded an 'immediate ceasefire' in the besieged territory.

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said the rallies were organised to show that 'ordinary people' support a ceasefire.

'This Saturday, ordinary people across the UK will come out again to show the vast majority of them support a ceasefire,' he said.

'They will show their solidarity with Palestinians who are suffering unimaginable harm.'

A spokeswoman for organisers Stop The War Coalition said on Friday: 'Tomorrow is the day of action that we've called for.' 

'Groups around the country are organising local rallies and marches to basically build for the national demonstration that has been called for next Saturday,' she said.

The spokeswoman added that most of the rallies will have speakers, and some will still march.

'I think most of them have speakers from various organisations that are involved in the main marches, and then trade unionists,' she said.

This week, Labour saw a string of frontbench resignations after ten MPs defied Sir Keir Starmer and voted for an end to fighting.

MPs who did not rebel against the party leader have seen demonstrations in their constituencies, with marchers expected in Emily Thornberry's seat of Highbury and Islington today.

Last Saturday also saw shocking scenes of violence as far-right football hooligans claiming to be 'protecting the Cenotaph' clashed with police. 

Today, the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) voiced fears that 'genocidal hate chanting and antisemitic rhetoric' would be heard on Britain's streets.

The Met said 300,000 people joined a pro-Palestinian march through London on Armistice Day, which saw some displaying antisemitic slogans and sickening support for Hamas. 

Meanwhile, the CAA filmed several protesters comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, with one branding Benjamin Netanyahu 'worse than Hitler'. 

The Metropolitan Police said that a 'significant' policing operation is planned for the capital this weekend as it plans to crackdown on any hateful behaviour.

Commander Karen Findlay, who is leading the Met's operation in London, said: 'Whilst there is no single large central protest event on Saturday, our policing priorities remain the same across the local events that are due to take place.

'We are here to ensure that people can exercise their right to protest but to make sure that is done lawfully, and that unreasonable disruption to the lives of other Londoners is kept to a minimum.

'Our officers will intervene swiftly where they see offences taking place. In particular, I want to reiterate that there is no place for hate in London. Hate crime will not be tolerated.

'Regrettably, while the majority of protesters coming out in recent weeks have been peaceful, we have continued to see people taking part in offensive chanting or intentionally carrying placards that cross the line from political statements into racially or religiously aggravated offences.'

The British Transport Police have issued Section 14a orders prohibiting protests on Saturday at many of London's main rail stations.

The orders will be in place between 10am and 11pm at Waterloo, Charing Cross, King's Cross, London Bridge, Euston, Liverpool Street, Marylebone, Paddington, Victoria and St Pancras.

Assistant Chief Constable Sean O'Callaghan said: 'We have been made aware of several planned demonstrations due to take place on Saturday November 18 across railway stations in London.

'We fully respect the rights of people to protest lawfully but where we believe this could cause serious disruption to the railway services, we must act.'

On Friday, schoolchildren walked out of their classes as part of a coordinated 'school strike for Palestine'. 

In Bristol, youngsters handed in a petition calling for a ceasefire, while similar events took place in other cities across the UK. 

It came after hundreds of pupils at a Wimbledon girls' school took part in a banned march in support of Palestine which left Jewish students feeling 'isolated and threatened' on Wednesday. 

Footage posted on TikTok shows how streams of uniformed girls aged 11-16 defied a ban on any political event within the school campus this week - leaving some girls, including some of Jewish backgrounds, feeling unsafe.

And on Thursday, a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters surrounded the Labour constituency office of MP Rushanara Ali after she abstained from Wednesday's Gaza ceasefire vote in Parliament, following an earlier protest their by schoolchildren in the day. 

The Department of Education has responded by stressing that children should be in school and not 'missing out on their edu