Heavy police presence near village amid pro-Palestine march and counter-protest
By Rebecca Black, Press Association
The Co Down village of Scarva has been brought to a standstill amid a counter-protest to a march in support of Palestine which is due to pass by.
The March for Palestine set off from Lurgan, Co Armagh, on Saturday morning in a bid to raise funds for charities supporting those injured in the Middle East conflict.
It is set to pass by the largely unionist village of Scarva on the Newry towpath on Saturday afternoon.
Hundreds of protesters with Israel flags as well as Union flags have turned out in Scarva to oppose the march.
There is a heavy police presence around the village, with a line of police Land Rovers blocking off the bridge which connects the towpath and the village.
The Parades Commission has ruled that the march cannot cross the bridge into Scarva.
