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Police, Protesters Clash as London Eyes Tighter Virus Rules

Associated Press

   LONDON - Police in London clashed with protesters Saturday at a rally
   against coronavirus restrictions, even as the mayor warned that it was
   "increasingly likely" that the British capital would soon need to
   introduce tighter rules to curb a sharp rise in infections.

   Scuffles broke out as police moved in to disperse hundreds of
   demonstrators who gathered in London's central Trafalgar Square. Some
   protesters formed blockades to stop officers from making arrests, and
   traffic was stopped in the busy area.

   The "Resist and Act for Freedom" rally saw dozens of people holding
   banners and placards, such as one reading "This is now Tyranny," and
   chanting "Freedom!" Police said there were "pockets of hostility and
   outbreaks of violence towards officers."

   Britain's Conservative government this week banned social gatherings of
   more than six people in a bid to tackle a steep rise in COVID-19 cases
   in the country. Stricter localized restrictions have also been
   introduced in large parts of England's northwestern cities, affecting
   about 13.5 million people.

   But officials are considering tougher national restrictions after Prime
   Minister Boris Johnson confirmed Friday that Britain is "now seeing a
   second wave" of coronavirus, following the trend seen in France, Spain
   and across Europe.

   London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the city may impose some of the measures
   already in place elsewhere in the U.K. That may include curfews,
   earlier closing hours for pubs and bans on household visits.

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