OAP arrested after ‘car driven into crowd of protesters’ at Edinburgh Palestine rally

A PENSIONER has been arrested after allegedly driving a car into a Palestine protest and injuring participants.

The motorist, aged 70, allegedly tried to drive through a crowd of hundreds of activists who had gathered in Edinburgh city centre to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.

A black Seat was pictured surrounded by Police Scotland officers as it made its way down Ramsay Lane and Mound Place towards North Bank Street.

It is understood the vehicle then crashed into several people, causing some of them to sustain minor injuries.

Police Scotland said the driver was later arrested in connection with driving offences.

One protester said: “They took her out of the car and took her away.

“Then police drove the car away.

“A speaker announced no one was injured.”

Another protester added: “Totally surreal experience.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 2.30pm on Saturday, 13 January, 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 demonstration was one of several pro-Palestine protests taking place across the UK and Ireland on Saturday, including in London and Dublin.

Organisers of the Edinburgh demonstration said “several thousand” people attended.