Protester who struck police officer on head jailed

Protesters during a pro-Palestine march on Saturday

A man has been sentenced to six months in jail after he struck a police officer over the head with a megaphone at Saturday's pro-Palestinian protest in central London.

Atif Shafiq, 41, of Walthamstow, east London, left the officer needing stitches after attacking him at the rally in Whitehall.

The Metropolitan Police officer sustained a "large laceration" and required two stitches after being taken to hospital.

At Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court, District Judge Denis Brennan highlighted the potential consequences of Shafiq's actions, stating they could have "provoked a volatile reaction from the crowd."

Shafiq, wearing a T-shirt with a Palestine flag and “love Palestine” on the back, was among a reported 100,000 protesters who took to the streets of central London.

The court heard he ended up behind the police cordon with a number of other protesters but ignored police orders to “get back”.

The prosecutor said Shafiq pulled the red megaphone he was wielding “to shoulder height” before he “hit the victim around the head”.

In delivering the verdict, District Judge Brennan said: "This country has an honourable tradition of peaceful protest.

"What you did was assault a police constable who was on duty causing him a serious injury."

Shafiq was also ordered to pay the injured officer £200 in compensation.