Bottles thrown as anti-vaccination protesters clash with police at Parliament Square

Police have made a string of arrests as anti-lockdown and anti-vaccination protesters caused mayhem outside the Houses of Parliament on Monday.

Video posted on social media showed bottles being thrown towards police amid angry scenes after the protesters descended on Parliament Square.

Police urged protesters to move out of the road in front of the Houses of Parliament as the large demonstration blocked cars.

Anti-vaccination protesters chanted “shame on police” and “arrest Boris Johnson” as the demonstration moved from Parliament Square to spread onto the road and up to the gates of the Palace of Westminster.

A police officer was seen to put a lock on a gate at the entrance to Parliament while those outside held signs with anti-vaccination and anti-police messages.

By mid-afternoon Scotland Yard said 11 people had been arrested following the protest.

The force tweeted: “A number of officers continue to respond to a demonstration in Parliament Square, #Westminster.

“Eleven people have been arrested for a variety of offences. Our policing operation continues, sadly officers have been met with hostility while engaging with crowds.”

Earlier the force said officers were responding to protesters in Parliament Square after those taking part in the anti-vaccination demonstration blocked the road.

The force tweeted: “We are responding to a demonstration in Parliament Square this afternoon. A group have blocked the road which is causing traffic disruption.

“Officers are on scene, speaking with those taking part in the protest and looking to ease congestion as soon as possible.”

Footage shared online shows a group of bald, middle-aged men squaring up to police officers, throwing bottles and shouting abuse.

Many of the largely male crowd appear to have removed their tops amid sweltering weather conditions and several have brought children along to the event.

A woman confronts police (Getty Images)

Videos from the protest have been shared online by several discredited conspiracy theorist and far-right Twitter accounts.

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Despite the signs and placards promoting various unfounded conspiracy theories, it is unclear what has prompted an anti-lockdown demonstration on the day lockdown ended in the UK.

However, a number of protestors appear to be registering their opposition to the Covid vaccine, which has saved millions of lives across the globe.

Piers Corbyn joined the anti-lockdown rally hours after lockdown ended (PA)

Unsurprisingly, some banners and flags are seen being waved in support of the long debunked ‘QAnon’ conspiracy theory and cult, which falsely claims celebrities and politicians drink the blood of children as part of a global paedophile ring.

Piers Corbyn, brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, is at the event. He was arrested earlier this year for leaflets which compared the pandemic to the Holocaust.

Others have draped themselves in the national flags of the UK and England, while one man could be seen holding a sign calling for the release of Julian Assange.

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