Protesters plotted Coronation paint attack

Officers made arrests with moments to spare after learning of plan to distress horses and cause chaos

‘Our activity was targeted at those we believed were intent on causing serious disruption and criminality’

PROTESTERS posing as stewards planned to disrupt the Coronation by throwing bottles of paint at the procession, Sir Mark Rowley has revealed.

The Met Commissioner said his officers had worked around the clock to identify and arrest the criminal network that planned to attack last Saturday’s event and threaten people’s safety.

Just hours before the Coronation, police received intelligence that people intended to vandalise monuments, throw white paint at the procession and invade the route, he said.

If the disruption had not been stopped, Sir Mark said, it could have resulted in serious injuries for those taking part in the mounted procession.

In a strongly worded defence of the Met’s handling of the historic event, Sir Mark said: “By Friday evening, only 12 hours from the Coronation, we had become extremely concerned by a rapidly developing intelligence picture suggesting the Coronation could suffer.

“This included people intent on using rape alarms and loud-hailers as part of their protest which would have caused distress to military horses.

“We also had intelligence that people intended to extensively vandalise monuments, throw paint at the procession, and incur on to the route.” He said there was real concern that people could be injured, with 160 mounted regiments in the procession.

“The threat was so concerning that on Friday the Home Secretary and Mayor were given late night briefings as plans were being put in place,” he said.

“The intelligence and subsequent investigative work led to officers making arrests across multiple locations. These included arrests made for sex offences, illegal drugs and fighting but also groups who were believed to be involved in the type of criminal activities our intelligence had indicated.

“Officers have told me how the celebrating crowds applauded and cheered as they made 17 arrests in The Mall area close to the processional route and imminent to the start of the procession.”

The Commissioner hit out at “illinformed commentary” that suggested the police had banned all protest and said he was proud of the part his officers played in ensuring the “historic moment of huge national significance” went off smoothly.

He said that while there was “low tolerance” of disruptive protests there was not “zero tolerance”, and a large number of people had been present to make their anti-monarchist views heard.

Sir Mark added: “I want to be absolutely clear – our activity was targeted at those we believed were intent on causing serious disruption and criminality. Serious and reliable intelligence told us that the risks were very real.”

A total of 53 people have been bailed after being arrested for a range of alleged offences but the Met has expressed regret over the arrest of six members of the Republic group. No further action will be taken against them.

Explaining how the arrests came about, Sir Mark said: “Officers searched a vehicle on Saturday morning and found items which at the time they believed could have been used as part of a ‘lock on’ style protest.

“As I would expect, the arresting officers were vigilant, curious, and proactive. They formed the ‘reasonable suspicion’ necessary to arrest for the new Section 2 Public Order Act 2023 offence of ‘being equipped to lock on’, and these were the only arrests under the new legislation.

“Having reviewed the evidence and potential lines of enquiry we do not judge that we will be able to prove criminal intent beyond all reasonable doubt.”

Sir Peter Fahy, the former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, warned that the new legislation was “very poorly defined and far too broad”.

David Davis, the senior Tory MP, also criticised the Public Order Act and called for the Home Affairs Select Committee to investigate.

However, Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, praised the police for using the new law to ensure that everything at the Coronation “went off so smoothly and was so successful”.

sir – How frustrating to hear that the Metropolitan Police force now “regrets” detaining the anti-royalist protest organisers at the Coronation (report, May 9).

I was relieved that the “shouty yellow banner brigade” did not completely disrupt proceedings. I would think there are others who were likewise impressed by the swift removal by police of obvious troublemakers. It’s the job of our police force to enable peaceful protest, not to allow disruptive activists to steal the limelight and spoil major events for the majority of peaceful citizens.

Rosy Drohan Marksbury, Somerset

SIR – Demonstration is a democratic right and should be protected; disruption is an abuse of that right and should be prevented.

Nik Perfitt Bristol

SIR – The anti-monarchist protesters arrested at the Coronation should think themselves lucky they don’t live in a republic like France. The police there do not hesitate to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse anyone protesting against the president.

Roger Jackson Stockport, Cheshire

SIR – The Metropolitan Police deserve great credit and our grateful thanks for the way that security was maintained at the Coronation.

The intelligence work behind such an exercise must be enormous. These days, enemies of the State use highly sophisticated methods of disruption.

The Met has suffered from considerable criticism over the past few years, but no other force could have protected us in the way that it did: quietly, and in the background, ensuring an incident-free day.

Adrian Lloyd-edwards Dartmouth, Devon

SIR – I found the news that police had arrested republican protesters, prior to the Coronation starting, chilling in the extreme. It is one thing to arrest those who may have had “lock-on” equipment to physically disrupt the Coronation parade or disturb the horses. It is quite another to preemptively arrest those who have liaised with the police for months about their intentions.

Even the Queen’s son did not express concern about the planned protests, when asked about them. Tom Parker Bowles told a podcast that Britons “live in a free country” where “we are all allowed to have different views”, in addition to a “right to protest”.

The Metropolitan Police have serious questions to answer over their handling of this event.

Theo Morgan London W9

SIR – Who would be a police officer today?

You’re damned if you do nothing, and damned if you do something.

John Wilkins Ware, Hertfordshire