In a statement, it said people were arrested on suspicion of “affray, public order offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance”.
Commander Karen Findlay, who has been leading the Coronation operation, says the Met “absolutely understand public concern following the arrests we made this morning”.
“We have policed numerous protests without intervention in the build-up to the Coronation, and during it. Our duty is to do so in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation. We also have a duty to intervene when protest becomes criminal and may cause serious disruption,” she said.
As we mentioned earlier, protesters and human rights groups have criticised the Met over the arrests of anti-monarchy protesters. Human Rights Watch described it as “something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London