Two major protests are due in London on Saturday, opposing the construction of a new Chinese embassy amidst security concerns, and condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza, highlighting escalating international tensions.
Demonstrators are poised to gather for multiple protests in London this Saturday, with significant attention on two primary events. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed a protest against the proposed establishment of a new Chinese embassy, scheduled to take place at 2pm at Royal Mint Court, close to the city's financial district. Concurrently, pro-Palestinian activists are expected to assemble in Parliament Square, voicing their opposition to the ongoing Israeli bombings.
The police have imposed specific conditions on the anti-embassy protest, as outlined under the Public Order Act. These conditions mandate that participants adhere to a designated route and remain within a specified area during the static portion of the demonstration. The assembly is required to conclude by 5pm. Groups such as the Hong Kong Democracy Council have taken to social media to publicise the event, urging attendees to "Say ‘no’ to China mega embassy" and asserting that the proposed embassy represents a significant threat to privacy and personal freedoms.
The timing of the protest is particularly critical, coinciding with rising concerns from international allies regarding the embassy's implications. Sir Iain Duncan Smith, former leader of the Conservative Party, has been vocal about his opposition to the proposal, referring to it as a “walk of shame” for the Government. He condemned the Government's evasive responses, dubbing them “Project Kowtow,” and highlighted warnings from both the White House and the Dutch government about potential risks associated with the embassy's proximity to sensitive data centres and communication infrastructure.
Adding to the concerns, Duncan Smith noted Beijing’s troubling history with cyber intrusions and stated that “Beijing has a recent history of cutting cables and confirmed infrastructure hacks, including embedding malware capable of disabling all that infrastructure.” The US is reported to be "deeply concerned" about these developments, according to a senior US official.
On the other side of the protests, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, alongside Stop the War and other activist groups, has labelled its gathering an “emergency protest,” calling for an immediate halt to arms supplies to Israel and condemning the escalating military actions against Palestinians. The demonstrators view the timing of their protest as critical, linking issues in Gaza to broader geopolitical tensions, including Iran.
While the police have indicated they have not been notified of any counter-protests related to the pro-Palestinian gathering, they are prepared for a significant turnout given the contentious political climate. The unfolding events in London this weekend thus reflect not only local sentiments but also broader international dynamics, as these issues attract attention from various global powers.
As the day approaches, the outcome of these protests may significantly influence public discourse and potentially impact future governmental decisions regarding foreign policy and domestic security.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references a protest against the proposed Chinese embassy at Royal Mint Court, scheduled for 2pm at Royal Mint Court, and a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Parliament Square at the same time. The earliest known publication date of similar content is 8 February 2025, when over 1,000 protesters gathered outside Royal Mint Court to oppose the proposed Chinese embassy. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Mint_Court?utm_source=openai)) This indicates that the narrative is reporting on an upcoming event, suggesting a high freshness score. However, the specific date mentioned in the narrative is not provided, making it challenging to assess the exact timing. Additionally, the Hong Kong Democracy Council is mentioned as publicising the event, which aligns with their known activities. The pro-Palestinian demonstration in Parliament Square is also consistent with previous events, such as the large pro-Palestinian rally in London on 21 October 2023. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/21/about-100000-turn-out-in-london-for-pro-palestine-rally?utm_source=openai)) Therefore, while the narrative appears to be reporting on planned events, the lack of a specific date and the absence of direct confirmation from the Metropolitan Police or other reputable sources make it difficult to fully verify the freshness of the information.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative includes direct quotes attributed to Sir Iain Duncan Smith, such as referring to the proposed embassy as a “walk of shame” for the Government and condemning the Government's responses as “Project Kowtow.” These quotes are consistent with statements made by Duncan Smith in previous reports, indicating that they are not original to this narrative. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/21/about-100000-turn-out-in-london-for-pro-palestine-rally?utm_source=openai)) The repetition of these quotes suggests that the content may be recycled, which could impact the originality score.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Belfast Telegraph, a reputable news organisation. However, the article is hosted on a mobile version of their website, which may affect its credibility. Additionally, the article includes references to other sources, such as the Hong Kong Democracy Council and Sir Iain Duncan Smith, which are known entities. The inclusion of these references adds credibility to the narrative. However, the lack of direct confirmation from the Metropolitan Police or other authoritative sources regarding the planned protests raises some concerns about the reliability of the information.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative describes two protests in London: one against the proposed Chinese embassy at Royal Mint Court and another pro-Palestinian demonstration in Parliament Square. These events are plausible given the historical context of similar protests in London, such as the large pro-Palestinian rally on 21 October 2023. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/21/about-100000-turn-out-in-london-for-pro-palestine-rally?utm_source=openai)) The involvement of the Hong Kong Democracy Council and the mention of Sir Iain Duncan Smith's opposition to the embassy proposal add further plausibility to the narrative. However, the lack of specific dates and direct confirmation from the Metropolitan Police or other authoritative sources makes it difficult to fully assess the plausibility of the events as described.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative reports on planned protests in London, including one against the proposed Chinese embassy at Royal Mint Court and another pro-Palestinian demonstration in Parliament Square. While the events described are plausible and consistent with previous occurrences, the lack of specific dates and direct confirmation from authoritative sources raises concerns about the freshness and reliability of the information. The repetition of quotes from Sir Iain Duncan Smith suggests potential recycling of content, which may impact the originality score. Therefore, further verification is needed to confirm the accuracy and timeliness of the reported events.
