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Home » Now Pro-Palestine Protesters Target The London Marathon: Flag-Waving Activists Demonstrate Along Route Following Fears That Race Would Be Disrupted

Now Pro-Palestine Protesters Target The London Marathon: Flag-Waving Activists Demonstrate Along Route Following Fears That Race Would Be Disrupted

Pro-Palestine protesters have targeted the London Marathon by demonstrating along the route of the event in the capital.

Activists have been seen waving Palestinian flags as they gathered at the security barriers which line the 26.2-mile course this morning.

Organisers had urged pro-Palestine and Israel demonstrators not to disrupt the Marathon and to focus on ‘coexistence and togetherness’ amid the conflict in the Middle East.

Large numbers of police officers were seen in central London ahead of the event this morning, where 50,000 professional and amateur runners have taken to the streets of the city for the ultra-endurance test.

Photos taken in the early hours of Sunday morning showed police securing the route with sniffer dogs in operation, as well as stewards congregating before the first race got underway at 9.05am.

People wave Palestinian flags as they gather at the side of the London Marathon course today

Demonstrators gather at the barriers marking the London Marathon course in Blackheath as they wave Palestinian flags

People drape Palestine flags over their shoulders as they stand next to the barriers in Blackheath

Britain’s Emile Cairess runs through the streets of London during today’s marathon as a Palestinian flag hangs from a street lamp behind him

British athlete Anya Culling runs past street lamps that have Palestinian flags attached to them during the London Marathon

Metropolitan Police officers patrol Greenwich Park on Sunday morning for the London Marathon

Participants in this year’s London Marathon queue as they arrive at Blackheath Common before the race

Runners who will be wearing fancy dress of rhinos arrive at Greenwich Park early on Sunday morning

The marathon, which is one of the largest in the world, has been threatened with protests in the past, with Just Stop Oil saying last year they would ‘never rule out anything’ when it comes to disrupting the event.

Bosses at the event say measures are in place to protect participants and prevent potential protests.

Last week London Marathon Director, Hugh Brasher, said: ‘What we’ve always tried to do is bring people together. Coexistence and togetherness is what the London Marathon is all about.

‘And we hope that message will resonate with anyone who thinks it is a good thing to disrupt the race, because it isn’t.’

He confirmed there are people running for both Palestinians and Israelis that have been affected by the Hamas attack on October 7 and the subsequent conflict in Gaza.

The London Marathon has been threatened by protesters before, including the supporters of the Tamil Tigers back in 2009 and Just Stop Oil in 2022.

The war in Gaza has provoked impassioned reactions from affected communities, leading to some clashes between protestors and counter-protestors in international demonstrations in recent months.

The Metropolitan Police has also faced criticism for its perceived ‘light touch’ policing the demonstrations.

Officers clashed with pro-Palestine demonstrators who were taking part in ‘economic blockades’ last week.

A police sniffer dog is seen on a lead on The Mall as security measures are put in place for the London Marathon

Workers put up barriers along The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace, which will serve as the finish line

Road closures have been put in place along the 26.2-mile route, which winds its way through the capital

TCS London Marathon director Hugh Brasher (pictured) urged protesters to skip the demonstrations this weekend

A record number of people are taking part in the event itself today, with more than 50,000 runners signed up.

The event kicked off with the wheelchair field starting at 9.05am, followed by the elite women at 9.25am and the elite men at 10am.

From 10am, waves of amateur runners, including celebrities, were seen setting off from the starting line in Greenwich Park.

They will then make their way through the 26.2-mile route through London and past some of the city’s most famous landmarks including Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf The Tower of London, The London Eye and Big Ben, before finishing on the Mall in front of Buckingham Palace.

There was 30 seconds of applause before the race in memory of last year’s elite men’s race winner Kelvin Kiptum, who died in a car accident in February at the age of 24.

He set a new London Marathon record of two hours, one minute and 25 seconds last year with his third win, and set a new world record of two hours and 35 seconds in Chicago in October.

This year’s race will be the first time that wheelchair and non-disabled athletes have received the same prize money for a marathon.

TCS London Marathon organisers paid tribute to the late Kelvin Kiptum on Sunday with 30 seconds of applause before the elite male race

Pro-Palestinian protesters clash with police officers during a demonstration outside the LondonMetric company offices as part of the A15 global economic blockade

Pro-Palestinian protesters march from Russell Square to Parliament Square as part of a national day of action for Palestine, in London on April 13

All four winners of the elite races will receive £44,000, with the runner-up receiving £24,000 and third place £18,000.

David Weir, who will be racing his 25th consecutive London Marathon on Sunday and has won eight times, said he had not expected the change to happen in his lifetime.

Mr Brasher added that the event will be ‘more inclusive than before’ with support for more than 200 disabled participants as well as a faith space and a quiet space for neurodivergent participants in the finish area.

There are female urinals, sanitary products available for anyone who needs them, and a family support area which includes a private breastfeeding area.

Jasmin Paris, the first woman to complete the ultra-endurance Barkley Marathons, started the elite women’s race at 9.25am before Dame Kelly Holmes, who won two gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games, started the elite men’s race and mass event at 10am.

Among the runners is 20 MPs and peers, the most in the event’s history, including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.

Famous faces will include comedian and TV presenter Romesh Ranganathan.

He is running for suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably, the day after starting his new Radio 2 Saturday morning show, taking over from Claudia Winkleman.

Hardest Geezer Russ Cook, who finished running the entire length of Africa on April 7, will take part in support of the Running Charity.

The 2023 marathon, the world’s biggest annual one day fundraising event, raised £63 million for thousands of charities.