Critical voices will also be raised this Saturday…
Today is all about the crown: Charles is officially crowned king at Westminster Abbey. Some find it important, noble, wonderful. The others find it outdated, unrealistic and overshadowed by scandal. And the latter are still on the streets today.
Charles will be crowned this Saturday – everything should go smoothly at the ceremony
A poster campaign has been seen again and again on the streets of London since the morning: “Not my King” (“Not my King”) is emblazoned on numerous posters in black letters on a yellow background.
Protesters gathered in a group of about 2,000 people in Trafalgar Square and along the procession route in London, organizing. The police searched an entire van full of the signs in the morning. The banners were not confiscated.
Heavily armed police secure the procession to Buckingham Palace
Demonstrators mingle with royal fans
BUT: There were arrests. And against troublemakers of the “Republic” movement. This has set itself the goal of abolishing the monarchy. Six members, including the group’s leader, Graham Smith, were arrested.
But why? Republic spokesman Luke Whiting said, “Possibly because one of them was carrying a bullhorn.” Smith was seen in photos with a bullhorn.
Similarly, it was also reported by “Sky News”. The officials were disturbed by a megaphone they had brought with them. The device could frighten the horses and also disturb the nearby Royals fans, the reasoning was. However, the megaphone was not used before the arrest, Sky News continued.
The police confirmed the arrest of several people. It is currently not known whether these were the “Republic” demonstrators. “The people are being held on suspicion of breach of the peace,” officials said on Saturday.
According to the police, four people had previously been arrested who had objects to chain with them. “You are being held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public disturbance,” it said. The police initially did not give an indication of how many people were arrested in total.
Graham Smith is the head of the Republic organization, which aims to abolish the monarchy in Great Britain. He and other members were arrested
Arrests something “you would expect in Moscow”
The organization “Human Rights Watch” has already expressed sharp criticism of the British police’s approach: “This is something you would expect in Moscow, but not in London,” said the head of the British branch of the human rights organization. “Peaceful protests allow people to hold those in power accountable. It’s something the UK government seems increasingly reluctant to do.”
Mega contingent: Soldiers and police officers protect the celebrations from disruptors
Police officers are on special alert. Officials warned one demonstrator that they had an “extremely low level of inhibition” about maintaining order today, such as “ Daily mailreported.
The ceremony should not even be disturbed by heckling. A mammoth task for the police!
The procession goes through several streets from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace. The attack surface: huge!
Eco-Protestants could also allegedly get involved and ruin the celebration for Charles. A spokesman for “Just Stop Oil” said about a graffiti attack: “It can neither be confirmed nor denied”. Ah yes …
After all, the police are well prepared. 11,500 officers are on duty and another 10,000 military personnel will attend the ceremony.
This may be one of the largest operations in London history…
