Two police officers have been injured and a man arrested in a protest of several hundreds of people in Whitechapel.
The Metropolitan Police was alerted to an incident in Greatorex Street at 8pm on July 18, after call handlers received multiple 999 calls.
Teams of police were dispatched to the scene where they reportedly found two large groups of men fighting amongst several hundred other people in a demonstration.
A Met police spokesperson said: "Officers intervened to separate the groups and one man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence.
"Projectiles were thrown towards them and two officers sustained injuries as a result.
"A number of cars were damaged during the incident. Resources from elsewhere in London were deployed to the area to provide further support."
The Met have confirmed they believe the disorder was linked to protests that have taken place in Bangladesh in recent days, where there have been fatalities.
Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Stepney, thanked the Met for their response on X.
I would like to thank the police for their swift response in dealing with the disorder this evening. I understand emotions are running high due to the violence following protests in Bangladesh, and appeal for calm.
— Rushanara Ali MP 💙 (@rushanaraali) July 18, 2024
I have been reassured there will be additional police officers…
Det Ch Supt James Conway said: “I am grateful to the officers who bravely intervened without hesitation to restore order in a challenging situation.
“This was a serious incident and had it not been for the decisive intervention of local officers and other Met colleagues it could well have resulted in more serious injuries, further damage or worse.
“I recognise that events that take place in Bangladesh can have a significant impact on communities here in Tower Hamlets, but we cannot allow that strength of feeling to tip into threats, violence and disorder.
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“I am grateful to those in the community who stood alongside my officers last night and encouraged calm.
"In the coming days I would appeal to others to follow their lead and to avoid any further escalation."
People in the surrounding area have been advised they will see increased numbers of police in the coming days, in the wake of the incident.
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