Police clash with protesters after Kurdish terror group arrests in London

Free Kurdistan protesters clashed with police at a protest in north London after seven people were arrested following a swoop by counter terror officers.

The skirmish, captured on dramatic footage, show fists flying as around 100 demonstrators rushed towards a police line near a Kurdish community centre on Portland Gardens in Haringey at just after 1.15pm on Wednesday.

The protesters have been blocked from entering the community centre where they were due to attend an event for the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, known as the PKK.

The six were arrested over their alleged activities with the organisation, which is proscribed as a terror group.

Akam, 41, a shop worker told Metro: ‘The police have been unreasonable. There are homeless people who stay at the community centre and they must have been forced to leave as the police search the place.

‘Our civil rights are being trampled on.’

Some protesters held up banners with the message ‘free Kurdistan’.
Dozens of police vehicles, the police helicopter and the Territorial Support Group (TSG) was on the scene.

Police from the territorial support group frogmarched one man from the crowd and put him in a van after he tried to break their lines.

A police helicopter patrolled overhead as the angry protesters demanded to be let into the community centre.

Ali, one of the protesters told Metro: ‘Five people were arrested at the community centre and one at their home in the early hours of the morning. They have done nothing wrong, they are community leaders.

‘The police came in heavy handed and have cordoned off our centre. It’s an outrage. We are very angry. This is supposed to be a democracy it’s a joke.’

The six arrested under the counter terrorism act are four men and two women.

Their detention was not in connection with an imminent threat to the public, detectives said.

The PKK is a guerilla organisation in conflict with Turkish authorities.

Acting Commander Helen Flanagan from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: ‘I want to stress that today’s arrests are targeted specifically at those we believe may be involved in suspected terrorist activity.

‘We understand these arrests have caused some concern amongst certain local communities – particularly those in the Kurdish community.

‘I want to reassure the community that our activity is being carried out to keep everyone safe from potential harm, including those within the Kurdish community itself.

‘I would also ask that people avoid speculating or sharing unverified details online about this activity.

‘Local officers will continue to be present in the area over the coming days to provide reassurance to local residents and I would urge anyone with concerns to speak with these officers.

‘Local officers will also continue to hold meetings with community leaders, the local authority and local resident and community groups to keep them updated directly on the progress of this investigation.’

As part of the investigation, officers are carrying out searches at eight addresses across London, including at the Kurdish Community Centre in Haringey, north London.

The search activity at all eight locations is ongoing. The search at the community centre is expected to last up to two weeks.

Both the centre and the surrounding area will be closed to the public while officers continue their work there.

Additional local officers will be carrying out patrols and there will be an increased police presence in the area over the coming days, with officers available to speak with any members of the public who may be concerned.

She added: ‘This investigation and activity is about protecting all of our communities, but particularly those in our Turkish and Kurdish communities.

‘I would urge anyone who thinks they may have been affected or targeted by those linked to the PKK to get in touch.

‘We are also very mindful that closing the community centre may cause inconvenience to some people.

‘Officers will be working as quickly as they can, but these are very serious allegations so it is important that we take care in identifying and gathering as much evidence as we can.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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