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27th Feb 2022

Stand with Ukraine protests: Police shutdown Whitehall after ‘serious gas leak’

Steve Hopkins

The Met is trying to make ‘alternative arrangements’ so the protest can go-ahead

The Met Police shut down Whitehall following a “serious gas leak” on Sunday, forcing an anti-Russian protest to move as frustrations grow over Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and the UK’s response to it.

Thousands of protesters were expected to turn up to demonstrations calling for Putin to withdraw his forces, on what is the third day of protests.

It is unclear when Whitehall will re-open, with the Met attempting to make “alternative arrangements” so the protests could go ahead.

https://twitter.com/MetPoliceEvents/status/1497844200536260610

The Met urged anyone attending Sunday’s protest to follow police instructions.

Some 4,000 protesters were said to have gathered at Whitehall on Friday, demanding Boris Johnson stiffen the UK’s response to Putin beyond the sanctions already announced. Thousands were back on Saturday.

Johnson on Saturday said the “sense of outrage and disgust” over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was spreading and vowed to “tighten the ligature” around Putin’s regime, The Sun reported.

“I think we have to face the hideous reality that diplomacy with Putin was a charade.”

“The feeling is strong among people, even in Russia and countries who’ve been apathetic — there’s a sense of outrage and disgust. “The UK will do everything to support our friends in Ukraine.”

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