Home secretary says demonstration at Royal Artillery Memorial ‘deeply disrespectful’ and he is looking at giving police new powers

Israel-Hamas war – latest updates

The actions of pro-Palestinian protestors who climbed on to a war memorial were “inflammatory” but not illegal, the Metropolitan police commissioner said on Thursday, as the government said it would consider giving police new powers to prevent “offensive” demonstrations.

Video appears to show at least two pro-Palestinian protestors clambering on the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park corner, central London, on Wednesday evening, timed to coincide with a vote on calls for a ceasefire in Gaza in the Commons.