© Press AssociationThe crowd moving towards Downing Street and towards the Houses of Parliament
UK authorities have imposed coronavirus-related restrictions regarding social gatherings in most parts of the country amid a surge in new coronavirus disease cases.
Sputnik presents a live broadcast from the British capital where demonstrators are rallying on Saturday against COVID-19 lockdown measures.
The so-called "Unite for Freedom" protest aims to push for easing the lockdown measures related to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, such as the mandatory wearing of face masks, mobility restrictions, and obligatory vaccines.
Since the start of the outbreak, the UK has confirmed 331,644 COVID-19 cases. The latest government figures also show that the
UK's death toll now stands at 41,486.
© REUTERS / Henry Nicholls
The new restrictions, imposed by the British authorities earlier in August, include a ban on separate households meeting one another in a domestic setting. Similar measures have been imposed in 18 areas of Greater Manchester, Leicester, and West and East Yorkshire, as well as in the Scottish town of Aberdeen.
Comment: The
Sun newspaper reports:
The 'Unite For Freedom' rally began at midday - with protesters calling for an end to "government lies" over the pandemic.
Pictures show large crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square holding signs claiming that the virus is a "hoax" and a "scam".
Other placards read: "No to mandatory vaccines!"
Most of the defiant crowd refused to wear a mask during the protests.
The event is currently moving towards Downing Street and towards the Houses of Parliament.
Well-known conspiracy theorist David Icke - well known for his conspiracy theory linking the coronavirus to 5G technology- is currently addressing a large crowd.
In May, Icke had his YouTube account axed in May after repeated warnings from the company that he had violated its policies by posting misleading information about the pandemic
His address follows an earlier speech from Jeremy Corbyn's brother Piers.
A poster advertising the event read: "Nothing is more important as time is very short - the Government are voting for a two-year extension of their emergency Covid-19 powers in September 2020.
"The first six months was a disaster - this must not be allowed to continue! We have to take a stand."
It comes as similar 'Unite For Freedom' protests erupted across Europe today.
Berlin police today disbanded a mass protest in the German capital against coronavirus curbs, where marchers failed to keep their distance and wear masks as instructed.
"Unfortunately, we have no other option," the city's police said on Twitter, adding people had failed to comply with the safety conditions of the march.
Some 3,000 officers had been deployed to control crowds estimated at 18,000.
And in Paris, hundreds rallied to protest new mask rules and other restrictions prompted by rising virus infections around France.
Police watched closely but did not intervene in the event.
The protests drew an assorted crowd of anti-maskers, conspiracy theorists as well as "yellow vests" who formerly protested economic injustice.
The 'Unite for Freedom' group's priorities are listed as "no more lockdowns, no social distancing, no masks. No track and trace, no health passports. No mandatory vaccinations, no "new normal".
The march is part of several protests expected to take place across the world under the Unite for Freedom banner.
As noted above, on the same day there was a massive protest against the lockdown in
Berlin, Germany, and there were also protests under different banners, but voicing similar grievances, in Israel
against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well by the
Yellow Vests in France.
Comment: The Sun newspaper reports: As noted above, on the same day there was a massive protest against the lockdown in Berlin, Germany, and there were also protests under different banners, but voicing similar grievances, in Israel against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well by the Yellow Vests in France.