Police operation in village as counter protests take place

A significant policing operation took place in Scarva where several hundred people joined a protest in the village against a Palestine solidarity walk.

About 1,500 pro-Palestinian marchers left Lurgan on Saturday morning heading to Omeath via Newry, and part of the walk took them on a canal towpath alongside the County Down village.

Dozens of police officers, some in riot gear, and water cannons are at the scene. Several bridges across the canal have been closed, as has access to some roads in the area.

It is understood to have passed off without serious incident.

It is understood the pro-Palestinian marchers were stopped by police on the outskirts of the village.

DUP MP for Upper Bann Carla Lockhart was in Scarva and described the policing operation as "very heavy-handed".

"There were water cannons brought in, there were movements from TSG (tactical support group) which only sought to highlight tensions so we were able to intervene and get that de-escalated and the parade passed along the towpath with no incident," she said.

"That took a significant piece of work and I want to commend the community who were here protesting because they're angry at this parade, they're angry at what it stands for and the political nature of it."

The Parades Commission gave permission for the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign march with conditions, as well as a counter protest.

Lockhart said the commission needed to be "held to account" for allowing a march that was "very much not welcome by the community" in Scarva.

The MP also said she would be "asking questions about the policing operation".