Demonstrator arrested in UK under Terrorism Act

Walter Jayawardhana

Metropolitan Police used anti-terrorist laws to arrest a demonstrator opposite the British Parliament for brandishing a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam flag.

Police took into custody an individual on suspicion of carrying articles in support of the proscribed organization.

British Police arrest demonstrators

When the demonstration blocking the Westminster Bridge opposite the Parliament started, hundreds of demonstrators were carrying the red flags of the leaping Tiger, known as the Eelam Flag, which are hoisted by the terrorists at their functions, that contravened the Terrorism Act 2000 of UK.

At 12.45, a man was detained for brandishing a Tiger flag. Before that police conveyed to the demonstrators that the flags should be removed.

Earlier, Metropolitan Police of London arrested four, one for violent disorder, two for public order and one for the breach for peace when the British Tamil Forum, the front organization for the banned Liberation of Tamil Eelam organized a protest by blocking the Westminster bridge opposite the British Parliament to demand a ceasefire to save the cornered, battered terrorist leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

In the course of the demonstration they threatened the Police saying that they would jump into River Thames if they were not allowed to speak to Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

They did not get a chance of speaking to the Prime Minister and at least one protester jumped into River Thames who was rescued by police and sent to hospital for treatment.

Police said about 200 participated in the demonstration.

The demonstration had been organized illegally without police permission. When the pro-LTTE demonstrators started pouring in, it took police by surprise.

After they were pushed to the Parliament square after many scuffles, they once again defied the police by coming in hundreds to the square defying orders to disperse.

A police statement said, Police marine units and lifeboats were on standby after one man jumped into the River Thames and was taken to hospital. Sources close to the British Tamil Forum said the demonstration has been held as a prelude to a bigger demonstration on April 11, once again with the intention of saving the terrorist leader using British influence over the Sri Lankan Government.