Five people have been arrested outside the Board of Deputies of British Jews in London during a protest on the anniversary of the October 7 attacks.

The Metropolitan Police said five people were arrested for inciting racial hatred, involving allegedly shouting or chanting slogans calling for intifada in what police described as a “spontaneous protest” outside the venue in Camden.

Wednesday marks the third anniversary of the attacks on October 7 which saw Hamas-led militants invade Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking more than 250 others hostage.

A number of student pro-Palestine demonstrations were also taking place, despite calls for a ban or for the protests to be moved to a different date.

Scotland Yard said: “Earlier this morning, officers made arrests at a spontaneous protest outside the British Board of Deputies in Camden.

“Five people were arrested for inciting racial hatred, involving allegedly shouting or chanting slogans calling for intifada.

“They remain in police custody. The protest in Camden has now ended.”

Around 100 pro-Palestine protesters marched and chanted “free free Palestine” and “free the people, free the land” in London, with a group at the back of the march holding a banner reading: “Holocaust survivor descendants against Gaza genocide”.

Counter-protesters holding Israeli flags and placards reading: “Stop the Gaza genolie” gathered by Russell Square.

Shouts of “scumbags”, directed at the pro-Palestine protesters, could be heard, while they chanted: “Terrorist supporters off our streets.”

Students linked to Queen Mary University of London were also due to take part in a rally near the campus in east London, while pro-Palestine rallies led by student societies are due to take place at Edinburgh and Glasgow universities on Wednesday afternoon.

The decision to march in support of Palestine on Wednesday has faced backlash, with Jewish student leaders calling the plans “outrageous”.

Separately, the Metropolitan Police said: “Earlier this morning, officers made arrests at a spontaneous protest outside the Board of Deputies in Camden.

“Five people were arrested for inciting racial hatred, involving allegedly shouting or chanting slogans calling for intifada. They remain in police custody. The protest in Camden has now ended.”

The Board of Deputies of British Jews is expected to hold a vigil in Richmond Terrace, just off Whitehall, later on Wednesday.

Board of Deputies president Phil Rosenberg said they would “not be threatened or intimidated by this small and extremist minority of British society”, adding that they would “continue undeterred to advocate for the Jewish people, here and around the world, and to stand up for peace and security for Israelis, Palestinians and the wider Middle East”.

Andy Burnham has not commented on the demonstrations but, marking the October 7 anniversary, assured the British Jewish community “we stand with you” against antisemitism.

The Prime Minister described a rise in antisemitic behaviour in the UK since 2023 as “disturbing”, but pledged his Government is “committed to protecting our citizens from vile hatred”.

The Israeli embassy in London said Britain had “experienced a profound rise in antisemitism, with Jewish people facing intimidation and hatred in streets, schools, universities and online” in the three years since the Hamas attacks.