Police are investigating why a section of its website crashed for around 12 hours, following claims it may have been hacked during a demonstration in Westminster.

Metropolitan police made 53 arrests during a "Million Mask March" in Trafalgar Square on Saturday (November 5), which took place between 6pm and 9pm.

Officers said the majority of protesters were peaceful, but that the arrests were made for offences including obstruction, possession of an offensive weapon, public order and drugs.

But during the march the Met's news web address, which is run separately to the normal Met police site, was not working from the early evening and remained out of action until 7am on Sunday (November 6).

There were widespread claims on social media that the problem was down to a "hack" from Anonymous, a "hacktivist" group.

Police said they are now investigating the cause of the disruption.

A spokesperson said: "The Met news web address news.met.police.uk which is run on a separate platform to the normal Met police website is now working fine.

"During the time the Met News web address was not working - between the evening of Saturday (November 5) and the morning of Sunday (November 6) - an alternative Met News web address mynewsdesk.com/uk/metpoliceuk was used and worked with no issues.



"We have contacted our supplier regarding the temporary disruption to the usual Met News web address.

"The main Met police website www.met.police.uk - together with its services and information for the public - was unaffected by the temporary issue with the Met News web address.

"There are no security issues with the Metropolitan Police Service website."

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