British police said they arrested 52 demonstrators on Saturday on the sidelines of the coronation of Charles III in London and defended these highly criticized arrests by explaining that they had been informed of plans to disrupt the historic event.
Security forces have arrested dozens of environmentalists who were planning actions on the route of the royal procession but also at least six anti-monarchy activists including the leader of the Republic movement Graham Smith, who had organized a demonstration in Trafalguar Square.
"Vandalizing monuments"
Stating that they had arrested 52 people still in police custody for disturbing public order late Saturday afternoon, the London Metropolitan Police said they had "received
information indicating that the demonstrators wanted to disrupt the coronation procession
".
"
This included information indicating that individuals wanted to try to vandalize monuments with paint, break through barriers and disrupt official travel
," Scotland Yard said.
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This seems to refer to the type of actions of the environmental movement Just Stop Oil whose activists have been arrested but does not explicitly explain the arrest of anti-monarchists whose "Not my
King
"
signs
were seizures.
This did not prevent hundreds of Republican sympathizers from demonstrating as the royal procession passed, a limited but unimaginable presence under Elizabeth II.
11,000 police officers deployed
The action of the police who had deployed more than 11,000 agents on Saturday was criticized by human rights organizations.
It comes days after the accelerated enactment of a controversial new law strengthening the powers of the police to counter protests.
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“
We have a duty to intervene when demonstrations become criminal and risk causing serious disruption
,” said Karen Findlay, who coordinated the police operation, quoted in the police press release.
“
It depends on the context.
The coronation is a once-in-a-generation event and it is a key part of our assessment
,” she added.
