Edinburgh: Woman charged after ‘road crash’ at pro-Palestine protest

The demonstration was being held in the capital to call for a ceasefire in Israel's war on Gaza. Photographs on social media showed a black Seat Leon surrounded by protesters and police officers on The Mound in the city centre yesterday afternoon. Police Scotland has now confirmed it received reports of "minor injuries" from pedestrians after a "road crash".

A 70-year-old woman has since been arrested and charged in connection with a driving offence. A Police Scotland spokesperson told The National: "Around 2.30pm on Saturday, January 13, 2024, we were made aware of a road crash involving a car and a small number of pedestrians in Ramsay Lane, Edinburgh. "Officers received reports of minor injuries from pedestrians, but no medical attention was required.

"A 70-year-old woman has been arrested and charged in connection with a driving offence. A report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal." The incident came on a Global Day of Action in support of Gaza, with demonstrations across the world taking place.

In Scotland, demonstrations were organised by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen. The campaign group staged a sit-in protest in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, to demand that the Scottish Government supports South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel. Whilst protests in Edinburgh and Glasgow called for a permanent ceasefire, the Aberdeen demonstration targeted Barclays Bank, which organisers say is complicit in investing in weapons which Israel has used in its military campaign.

In Dundee, attendees were asked to have a piece of paper with the word "press" on it across their chest to show solidarity with journalists in Gaza.

References

1. ^ Blinne Ni Ghralaigh: Lawyer's closing statement in ICJ case against Israel praised (www.thenational.scot)