The Met Police said the arrest was 'not protest related'.
The Metropolitan Police has come under fire after a video emerged of an officer punching a pro-Palestine protester in the head during an arrest.
Footage shows a man wearing a ‘Free Palestine’ vest and carrying a Palestine flag beside a parked car equipped with Palestine flags and a ‘Stop Gaza Genocide’ placard when he was approached by police.
The officer then appears to punch the man in the head during the incident on Whitehchapel Road, Tower Hamlets, on Friday afternoon.
Other officers approached, one of whom placed the man in a headlock, tackling him to the ground where the first officer appears to punch him repeatedly.
The Met Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
A spokesperson for the force said the arrest ‘did not relate to protest activity and was not connected with the display of the Palestinian flag or any political statements made’.
They claimed the arrest was over a member of the public allegedly assaulting a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) after an earlier unspecified ‘traffic issue’.
In a statement, Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said: ‘During an interaction with a member of the public on a traffic issue, the PCSO called on their radio for assistance.
‘Nearby police officers went to assist their colleague and an allegation was made that a member of the public had assaulted the PCSO.
‘The police officers then arrested the member of the public in relation to the allegation of assault.’
Despite the claim the arrest was ‘not protest related’, it sparked outrage among local politicians and pro-Palestine activists.
To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro.co.uk's London news hub.
On Friday night, protesters gathered outside Bethnal Green police station where the man was held before being released on bail pending investigation the following morning.
Some carried Palestine flags or wore keffiyehs, a Palestinian scarf.
Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Lutfur Rahman, said he was ‘deeply concerned’ by footage of the ‘violent incident’.
He called on officers involved in the violence to ‘be suspended while the investigation is carried out’, saying: ‘This situation requires de-escalation.
‘I call for calm in the community and a thorough investigation to be carried out urgently.’
Local Labour MP Rushanara Ali also said she was ‘deeply concerned’ and asked the Met Police for an ‘urgent explanation’.
In response, Detective Chief Superintendent Conway released an open letter recognising ‘the strength of feeling and community concern’.
He said: ‘Our use of force is governed by law and officers know they will scrutinised and held to high standards to ensure that any use of force is reasonable, accountable and necessary.’
Conway added: ‘If standards have not been met then action will be taken.’
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
