Pro-Palestinian protesters vandalise First World War memorial

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators vandalised a First World War memorial and burned an American flag in Central Park on Monday evening after being held back from the Met Gala by police.

Around 1,000 protesters took to the streets of New York, marching up Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan before penetrating barricades that were blocking access to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where the gala was being held.

The demonstrators were heard chanting: “It’s called divest! We will not stop. We will not rest!” as they marched towards the star-studded event.

Police managed to divert the group towards Central Park by forming a blockade – standing two officers deep – which prevented them from gaining access to the gala.

Footage posted to X, formerly Twitter, appeared to show police officers detaining some protesters outside of the event, as others across the street chanted: “Let them go”.