The police are appealing for witnesses over an alleged sexual assault during a pro-Palestinian march in central London on 18 May.

A woman was reported to have been attacked outside a currency exchange shop on Coventry Street in Westminster. The alleged incident was said to have happened at around 2.50pm after thousands of protesters gathered in central London. Scotland Yard has now launched an investigation.

A 69-year-old was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault but has since been bailed. Following the man’s release detectives are seeking witnesses to the alleged attack.

The suspect has been described by police as bald and clean-shaven, wearing thick-rimmed black glasses. He was also believed to be wearing a light blue shirt with a navy jacket.

On this specific march, thousands of pro-Palestinian activists rallied in London to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, with demonstrators moving from Mortimer Street down Regent Street via Piccadilly Circus to Whitehall where speeches took place.

Police said they made seven arrests relating to the protests organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, including the one in connection to the alleged sexual assault.

One arrest involved a man who allegedly climbed onto a traffic light, let off a smoke bomb and shouted, “intifada revolution”.

“Intifada” means “rebellion” in Arabic and is widely interpreted to endorse a call for a wave of violence in Israel similar to previous intifadas.

Another man was arrested for allegedly carrying an imitation coffin bearing offensive language, while a different man was arrested for allegedly fleeing police during a search. 

Chief Superintendent Colin Wingrove said of the policing efforts: “Officers made swift interventions to make arrests where criminal offences were suspected.”

A pro-Israel group, Enough is Enough, demonstrated at Piccadilly Circus on the same day, protected by a police barrier and fencing.