Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered to march in central London on Saturday to mark the passing of a year since the 7 October attacks in Israel.

Groups of activists convened in two areas in central London on Saturday morning amid a heavy police presence – one in Russell Square, one in nearby Bedford Square.

Organisers of the former said they planned to march to Whitehall, where attenders would listen to speeches – including from the former Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf.

According to organisers of the latter, they planned to “target” companies and institutions they say are “complicit in Israel’s crimes”, including Barclays and the British Museum.