Hundreds of people have gathered in central London to protest against the coronavirus vaccine rollout on Saturday.
Many of the crowd in Parliament Square had travelled from outside the capital.
Some claimed the pandemic is a hoax while others carried placards reading “My body, my choice”, and protested against the idea of vaccine passports.
Several people set off smoke bombs and one launched a firework.
One man, who did not give his name, told the PA news agency he had come “because I want to be free and I want you to be free and the Government are lying to us”.
Another said she had attended because the press “are lying to us”.
By around 1.20pm, the crowd had started to disperse and head up Whitehall.
After the crowd dispersed from Parliament Square, it headed up Whitehall past Leicester Square and towards Hyde Park.
Westfield
The Metropolitan Police Events Twitter account posted at around 4.30pm that certain roads around Shepherds Bush had been closed due to the ongoing demonstrations.
In the early evening, a group staged a demonstration in the Shepherds Bush site of the Westfield shopping centre.
At around 6.30pm, the Met said: “The 3rd demo is now at Westfield and is causing significant disruption to the local community and businesses, police are at the location.
“The MPS strongly urge those who are taking part in this demo to go home. Failure to do so may result in enforcement action being taken.”
The shopping centre had to shut after hundreds of marchers entered the building.
Police now trying to contain anti-lockdown protests inside Westfield, West London pic.twitter.com/5DAzRaBtdi
— Julian Druker (@Julian5News) May 29, 2021
There were tussles with police who tried to block access through one entrance, before protesters quickly realised that another door just yards away was unguarded.
Hundreds made it into the shopping centre where they stayed for about half an hour chanting “no more lockdowns” and “take your freedom back” before they were cleared by police with batons drawn, although without scenes of violence.
Chief Superintendent Roy Smith wrote on Twitter: “Thank you to officers policing London events since this morning.
“Disappointing that a small minority decided that disrupting Londoners going about their lawful business using violence & intimidation was reasonable.
“Our officers responded swiftly, robustly & with professionalism.”
Reactions
1.
Let me get this straight…
— Erin (they/them) (@TouchMyTeapot) May 29, 2021
Lockdown protesters headed to Westfield (which is open) because they’re angry about things being closed and being locked inside, but have gotten themselves locked inside Westfield (which has now had to close)?
Is that what’s just happened?
2.
I don’t even understand what they’re protesting about. The lockdown is over. Go to the pub you bellends https://t.co/eecWOFewUE
— Ian Dunt (@IanDunt) May 29, 2021
3.
Westfield shopping centre where people are actually shopping in open shops. It’s hardly Peterloo is it?
— Sue Ryan ? (@SueRyan12) May 29, 2021
4.
My favourite thing about the anti lockdown protest in London is that it ended up in Westfield, surrounded by open stores, restaurants & people shopping. Oh, the oppression. The horror. Vive la resistance!
— Tay (@acupofthea) May 30, 2021
5.
#COVIDIOTS #londonprotest at Westfield. Yellow stars are reprehensible and antisemitic. Managed to rip one off some drunk moron. pic.twitter.com/ssMESrh2nw
— Gia (@giatweetz) May 29, 2021
6.
The siege of Westfield? #protest #london #westfield pic.twitter.com/yhUFG7dPey
— Richard Lewis (@londontogger) May 29, 2021
7.
Yesterday an anti-lockdown protest took place at the fully open Westfield London shopping centre that got so out of hand they had to lockdown the shopping centre. You couldn’t make it up.
— Dave Danford (@davedanford) May 30, 2021
8.
I have no words….? So by protesting about lockdown Westfield London ended up going into lockdown and closing all stores!! https://t.co/qrQOPQIcqg
— SylviaDaisyPouncer (@PouncerSD) May 30, 2021
10.
Were they in Westfield to protest that the Laura Ashley hasn’t opened yet? Because everything else is open.
— Nick Walker (@nickw84) May 29, 2021
11.
I don’t get it. For once that the weather outside is great, they protest indoor?? https://t.co/g8fjgjMVS4
— Alessandro Giudici (@giudicialex) May 29, 2021
12.
Staggered by the #COVIDIOTS at #westfield storming past open shops and restaurants which have spent months not being able to trade and subsequently due to their mindless protests forced out many shoppers and closed businesses early for the day… to achieve what?
— Claire Marshall ? (@gleni77) May 29, 2021
13.
this is actually the most stupid thing i’ve ever seen pic.twitter.com/anrPiAjwa4
— ً jade ४ || loki era!! (@buckyIvrs) May 30, 2021
14.
These drum-banging, freedom-chanting anti-lockdowners crowded into Westfield shopping centre today to have oh-so-much fun being protesters.
— Rachel Clarke (@doctor_oxford) May 29, 2021
While 150k lie dead from Covid, their families steeped in grief.
No words. ?pic.twitter.com/EpbbPYx7Gs
Related: Uncertainty around June 21st easing as third wave of Covid may be underway in UK
