Dozens arrested in anti-lockdown protests in central London

LONDON - At least 36 people were arrested as thousands of people marched through central London under a heavy police presence to protest against lockdown measures, the Evening Standard newspaper reported Sunday.

The Metropolitan Police said 36 people had been arrested by 6:45 pm (1845 GMT) on Saturday, many for breaching COVID-19 regulations, said the newspaper.

Thousands of people joined Saturday's demonstration, which travelled from Hyde Park to St Paul's Cathedral and back to Westminster ahead of the anniversary of Britain's first lockdown which began on March 23 last year.

It came after more than 60 British lawmakers and peers signed a letter warning that allowing the police to criminalize people for protesting "is not acceptable and is arguably not lawful", said the newspaper.

Among those attending the march were controversial actor Laurence Fox and Piers Corbyn, brother of the former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, according to the London-based newspaper.

Crowds that gathered in Trafalgar Square were dispersed, while other demonstrators returned to Hyde Park.

But police were met with more hostile responses there later in the evening on Saturday, as protesters threw bottles and cans at them and some officers were later forced to run back to their vans, said the newspaper.

At about 7 pm (1900 GMT), a hundred police officers wearing riot helmets and carrying shields arrived at Hyde Park and urged people to go home, the Guardian newspaper reported.

On Feb 22, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced his long-anticipated "roadmap" exiting the lockdown. The March 8 reopening of schools was first part of the four-step plan which is expected to see all legal restrictions in England being removed by mid-June.

Other parts of Britain, including Wales and Norther Ireland, have also unveiled plans to ease the restrictions.

Experts have warned Britain is "still not out of the woods" amid concerns over new variants and the risks of the public breaching restriction rules.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines.