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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
George Lithgow and Sami Quadri

Kurdish protesters march in London over arrests linked to banned PKK terror group

Kurdish protesters have gathered in central London in response to the arrest of seven people said to be associated with the Kurdistan Workers Party.

Known as the PKK, the group is outlawed by the UK Government.

Their march is following a pre-arranged route from Trafalgar Square to Whitehall.

Around 100 demonstrators gathered, some holding placards with “stop the attacks on Kurds” and “hands off our community centre” written on them.

(James Manning/PA Wire)

The Metropolitan Police have issued a strict warning to attendees that expressing support for the proscribed group is a criminal offence.

The PKK wants an independent Kurdish state in south-east Turkey, and has been banned in the UK since 2001.

Last week, seven people were arrested in London on suspicion of terrorism offences linked to it.

Searches took place at the Kurdish community centre in Haringey, north London, among other locations.

A protest took place on Thursday evening in the vicinity of Green Lanes and Stanhope Gardens, close to the community centre.

The Met said a man was arrested on suspicion of expressing support for a proscribed terrorist organisation related to chanting during the protest.

(James Manning/PA Wire)

London is busier than usual this weekend as protests clash with Black Friday shopping and Winter Wonderland festivities.

Chief Superintendent Joe McDonald, who is leading the policing operation, said: “We understand the strength of feeling from the Kurdish community and want to take this opportunity to remind anyone taking part in the march that the PKK is proscribed by the UK Government and expressing support for them is a criminal offence.”

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