A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of urinating next to a memorial dedicated to PC Keith Palmer during a far-right protest in London.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the man is currently in custody in Essex after handing himself into police on Saturday.
A spokesperson for the force said: “A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of outraging public decency after a man was photographed apparently urinating on the memorial dedicated to PC Keith Palmer.
“The incident is believed to have taken place in the afternoon of Saturday, June 13.
“The man is currently in custody in Essex after presenting himself at a police station.”
PC Palmer was stabbed to death in the grounds of Parliament by Khalid Masood in 2017 after stopping the terrorist from entering Westminster.
The image, shared widely on social media, has been condemned by senior politicians and Met Police Commander Bas Javid, who described it as “disgusting and abhorrent”.
Home secretary Priti Patel likened the protesters’ behaviour on Saturday as “extreme thuggery”, adding: “We have seen some shameful scenes today, including the desecration of PC Keith Palmer’s memorial in Parliament, in Westminster Square, and quite frankly that is shameful, that is absolutely appalling and shameful.”
More than 100 people were arrested on Saturday during the protests for offences including breach of the peace, violent disorder, assault on officers, possession of an offensive weapon, possession of class A drugs, and drunk and disorder.
Boris Johnson slammed the “racist thuggery” witnessed at the protests on Saturday evening, writing on Twitter: “Racist thuggery has no place on our streets. Anyone attacking the police will be met with full force of the law.
“These marches and protests have been subverted by violence and breach current guidelines.
“Racism has no part in the UK and we must work together to make that a reality.”