British Transport Police arrests three men after racist altercation in Waterloo Station

Three men have been arrested in connection with a racist altercation in Waterloo Station on the weekend.

Video footage shared on social media showed a group of men acting aggressively in the central London hub, and making seemingly racist remarks towards others gathered nearby.

The incident was filmed on Saturday (November 11), the same day as 300,000 protesters took part in a march from Hyde Park to the US Embassy calling for a ceasefire in the war between Hamas and Israel.

A total of 145 people were arrested, the majority of whom were involved in a counter-protest opposing the march. 

British Transport Police (BTP), which manages the UK’s railway network, said the incident occurred at around 5.30pm after a demonstration in the station had been dispersed.

The three men arrested are a 57-year-old from Surbiton, a 61-year-old from West Molesey, and a 33-year-old from Christchurch, all of whom are currently in police custody.

In addition to the arrests, a BTP spokesperson has said a fourth person believed to have been involved has also been identified.

The BTP had earlier today (November 13) put out an appeal for information after an antisemitic hate crime was reported in Victoria Station, also on November 11.

In a statement on Saturday, assistant commissioner Matt Twist said: “This operation took place in unique circumstances, against a backdrop of conflict in the Middle East, on Armistice Day and following a week of intense debate about protest and policing. These all combined to increase community tensions.

“The extreme violence from the right wing protestors towards the police today was extraordinary and deeply concerning.

“While the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march did not see the sort of physical violence carried out by the right wing, we know that for London’s Jewish communities whose fears and concerns we absolutely recognise, the impact of hate crime and in particular anti-Semitic offences is just as significant.”