Protesters wrestled to ground by police moments before Queen’s Platinum concert

The two protesters sporting shirts declaring ‘Free Assange’ were arrested after causing a disturbance on The Mall near to the jubilee concert event

Protesters threatened to derail the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations on Saturday after causing a disturbance on The Mall.

The two demonstrators, both of whom were wearing ‘Free Assange’ shirts, were bundled to the ground and arrested shortly before the start of the Platinum Party at the Palace event.

Eight Met Police officers were spotted surrounding one of the men as he was handcuffed on the ground.

Another man wearing a Guy Fawkes mask was taken down by police in the same area.

This wasn’t the first protest seen during the jubilee celebrations.

On Thursday, a group of Animal Rebellion demonstrators broke through the security fences during the Trooping the Colour event, lying down in front of the approaching marching band.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said of Thrusday’s incident: “A number of arrests have been made of people who attempted to enter the ceremonial route in The Mall at approximately 10.10hrs today.

“The arrests were public order related for highway obstruction..

“Thank you to the crowd who showed their support by clapping our officers who returned to their post after dealing with the incident swiftly.”

One witness tweeted from the scene that “a couple of protesters have lain down in front of the band parading up the Mall, police have dragged them away”.

A spokesperson for Animal Rebellion said that they stormed the ceremony as a way of demanding that “Royal Land is Reclaimed as part of a broader programme of wildlife restoration and carbon drawdown”.

“The Crown owns roughly 6.6 billion acres of land throughout the world, which is about one-sixth of the land on the entire planet,” they said.

“Animal Rebels are shining the spotlight on the Crown’s continued inaction on the climate crisis, just months after dying the fountains of Buckingham Palace blood red in August last year.

“The Crown is doing nothing while millions are already suffering from rising global temperatures, unnatural disasters and the cost of living crisis right here in the UK.

“As the largest landowner in the UK, the Crown needs to support rapid and immediate transition of farm land for rewilding and we will not stop taking action until they do.”

Following Saturday evening’s star-studded ‘Platinum Party at The Palace’ event, millions will take to the streets on Sunday to attend street parties and lunches in honour of the Queen’s 70 years on the throne.

The grand Platinum Jubilee Pageant will also take place on Sunday – an event estimated to cost £15 million.

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