A peaceful protest in Camberwell, South London, spiraled into chaos on Saturday afternoon as around 50 demonstrators clashed with both the public and Met Police officers. The unrest, centered near The Lighthouse Theatre, has been attributed to simmering tensions among different factions within the Eritrean community.
Met Police officers, initially summoned to maintain order, found themselves facing a volatile situation. Videos circulating online depict uniformed officers holding their ground against protesters wielding sticks and poles.
As reported by the Mirror, without riot gear, the officers, awaiting backup, brandish batons in defense. The confrontations escalate as protesters hurl roadworks barriers and other makeshift weapons toward the officers.
Southwark Police provided updates on the unfolding situation via X, formerly known as Twitter: “Officers are on scene in Camberwell Road, SE5 where there is a protest with approximately 50 people gathered outside a private venue.
Additional officers are on their way to the location to assist with the demonstration. A group of approximately 60 protesters remain behind a police cordon. A number of arrests have been made.”
In response to the escalating violence, Southwark Police implemented a Section 35 dispersal order in Camberwell Road until 7 am the following day. This order grants authorities the authority to exclude individuals or groups from the area for 48 hours.
Reports suggest that the protest disrupted a meeting at the Eritrean embassy, which is located some five miles away in North London. Eyewitnesses, like John Lubbock, described a confrontation between the protesters and Eritrean government staff.
Lubbock stated on X, “People I’ve talked to say that the Eritrean embassy was holding a meeting, and the protesters turned up, and there was a confrontation between the two groups. Now they are kettling protesters while the Eritrean government staff are still inside the building, I think.”
Eritrea, situated on the Red Sea coast between Ethiopia and Sudan, ranks among Africa’s poorest countries. Human rights organizations characterize it as one of the world’s most repressive nations.
President Isaias Afwerki, in power for three decades, has never overseen an election. Millions have fled Eritrea due to conditions like forced military conscription, with a notable number seeking refuge in the UK.
This incident follows a pattern of protests against Eritrea’s government. Last year, a demonstration outside the Eritrean Embassy in Islington, condemning the country’s occupation of the Tigray region, resulted in 15 arrests for various offenses, including public order.
In August of this year, anti-Eritrean government protesters disrupted a cultural festival in Sweden, further underscoring the global nature of the dissent against the regime in Eritrea.
