Watch: Protesters brandish sticks during angry London clashes with police
I just wanted to go to the corner shop man, what is this pic.twitter.com/WkxDRi1Naa
— Liam Heath (@liamfheath) December 30, 2023
Dozens of Eritrean protesters armed with sticks have angrily clashed with police on a London street.
Officers fought to restore order with riot vans and batons after chaos broke out on Camberwell Road in Southwark, in the south-east of the capital, on Saturday afternoon.
Around 50 activists were gathered in the area protesting about fighting between the African nations of Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Scotland Yard said eight protesters were arrested and four officers were injured, one of whom was taken to hospital.
Video footage shows frantic scenes at a crossroad junction as protesters wielding sticks tussle with police and throw a traffic barrier at them.
As the officers and the protesters form separate front lines on the street, six police riot vans are shown attempting to blockade the crowd and ram into them while a London bus is left stranded in the melee.
The Metropolitan Police said “the protest is related to tensions among the Eritrean community”.
The force added in a post on X on Saturday afternoon: “Officers are on scene in Camberwell Road, SE5 where there is a protest with approximately 50 people gathered outside a private venue.
“Additional officers are on their way to the location to assist with the demonstration.”
A section 35 dispersal order has also been imposed on the road until 7am on Sunday, giving officers the power to ban a person from the vicinity for up to 48 hours.
It has been reported that the Eritrean embassy was hosting a meeting at the Lighthouse church building on the road, before two groups began confronting each other.
Violent disorder
The Met Police said in a statement: “Eight people were arrested for offences including violent disorder, criminal damage, possession of offensive weapons and assault on an emergency worker.
“Four officers were injured, one of whom was taken to hospital and has now been discharged.”
The force added: “We are aware of footage being shared online. This will be investigated, alongside other evidence, to identify anyone else who may have committed criminal offences.
“Officers have been working with a group of people who organised an event at a private venue in Camberwell Road. Those arrested were part of a group of demonstrators who gathered outside the venue.”
Ethiopia and Eritrea are once again on the brink of war following a long history of regional tensions.
The conflict is largely centred on Ethiopia’s aim to regain access to the Red Sea after losing this in 1991 when Eritrea became independent.
Last month, the US secretary of state Antony Blinken said “Eritrean forces must fully withdraw” and “both Ethiopia and Eritrea must refrain from provocation and respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries in the region”.
In November 2022 the two sides signed a peace deal to end the Tigray War that began in 2020, in which half-a-million people are estimated to have died, but tensions have since become inflamed again.
