Fact Check: London protester arrested for racist comments, not for holding Union Jack

A video of London’s Metropolitan Police arresting a man holding a Union Jack has been falsely described online as showing him being arrested for unveiling the flag at a pro-Palestinian rally. The police force said he was arrested for making racially aggravated comments and was later charged.

Thousands of demonstrators marched in central London on Oct. 14 to call for an end to Israel’s military action in the Gaza Strip triggered by an Oct. 7 Hamas attack, Reuters reported.

“Shameful! Cops drag away a man who unveiled his Union flag amidst the sea of Palestinian flags in central London. Palestinian, Israeli, Ukrainian & Trans flags are fine, but ours gets you arrested on your own streets!,” reads a post sharing the video on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

The video was also shared on Facebook.

In an email, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “The man was arrested after shouting racial abuse at those gathered in Whitehall and making similar racist comments to an officer who spoke with him.”

The 67-year-old was later charged with intentional racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress, and was bailed pending a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on Nov. 2.

“The man was in possession of a UK flag. This was in no way the reason for his arrest and forms no part of the charges against him,” the spokesperson said.

False. The man was arrested after shouting racial abuse and was later charged, according to the police.

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