Cops foil suspected plot to stop London Stock Exchange from opening and arrest six members of pro-Palestinian group
COPS foiled a suspected plot to stop the London Stock Exchange opening this morning — and arrested six members of a pro-Palestinian group.
Palestine Action activists were allegedly planning to target the financial hub by chaining themselves to the building’s doors.
But police swooped at dawn after a tip-off from a national newspaper.
Detectives from the Met and Merseyside arrested a man, 31, in Liverpool on suspicion of conspiracy to cause criminal damage.
Five others, believed to be part of the same plot, were later arrested for the same offence.
They were a 29-year-old woman in Queen’s Park, North West London, a man, 23, in Bethnal Green, East London, two women, 26 and 28, in Liverpool, plus a man, 27, in Brighton.
All six were being quizzed last night, a Met spokesman said.
Detective Superintendent Sian Thomas, of the Met Police, said: “These are significant arrests. We believe this group was ready to carry out a disruptive and damaging stunt which could have had serious implications had it been carried out successfully.
“Mindful of the suggestion that this was one part of a planned week of action, we are in contact with the City of London Police as well as other forces across the UK to ensure that appropriate resources are in place to deal with any disruption in the coming days.”
On Saturday thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central London waving placards shouting “Yemen, Yemen” in response to the US and UK airstrikes against the Houti rebels.
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Scotland Yard said nine people were arrested.