Activists arrested at London's Hyde Park for protesting the Coronavirus lockdown
Activists including the brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, were arrested on Saturday at London's Hyde Park for protesting the UK's coronavirus lockdown.
A total of 40 protesters gathered on Saturday morning in central London.
A Met Police spokesman said 19 people had been arrested in the Hyde Park area, with a further 10 given on-the-spot fines. Banners belonging to protesters read, "this is not about a virus, this is about control" and "no to the new abnormal".
Police removed Piers Corbyn from the protest in handcuffs, after he joined with a megaphone voicing that 5G and the coronavirus pandemic were linked.
He said “5G enhances anyone who’s got illness from Covid" and called the lockdown a “pack of lies to brainwash you and keep you in order”. Piers Corbyn, was arrested after refusing to leave the location and give in his details when asked by a police officer.
The UK is currently the second highest confirmed death toll from coronavirus in the world.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, of the Met Police, said: “It was disappointing that a relatively small group in Hyde Park came together to protest the regulations in clear breach of the guidance, putting themselves and others at risk of infection.
“Officers took a measured approach and tried to engage the group to disperse. They clearly had no intention of doing so, and so it did result in 19 people being arrested, and a further 10 being issued with a fixed penalty notice.”
The UK has been on lockdown since March 23 to help slow the spread of Covid-19. As a result, people have been encouraged to stay at home as much as possible, as well as businesses and services being forced to close down temporarily.
However, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has eased lockdown restrictions this week. He announced people who cannot work from home, must return to their workplaces from Wednesday. And granted unlimited exercise to members of the public, as long as socially distancing is followed.
Source: Evening Standard
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