Piers Corbyn, the older brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, has been fined £10,000 for his role in an anti-lockdown protest.
He has said he plans to take legal action after being one of the first people to be handed the hefty fine under new coronavirus laws, having allegedly organised the 'Unite for Freedom' event.
More than a thousand protesters are believed to have gathered in Trafalgar Square, London, on Saturday afternoon, claiming that the coronavirus pandemic is a 'hoax' and that restrictions should be brought to an end.
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Some demonstrators also held up anti-mask and anti-vaccination placards.
Scotland Yard said Corbyn was punished in accordance with the Health Protection Regulations, for holding a gathering of more than 30 people in an outdoor place.
Corbyn, 73, told Huffington Post: "There is no justification in any terms for any of the anti-Covid measures. They are not to control Covid, they are there to control the population."
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He also said he would be refusing to pay the fine, saying: "I don't have £10,000 but what will happen is they will send this fixed penalty notice demanding the money through the post and we then refuse to pay.
"Then they will chase us for the money so we'll have a court case or we appeal it and refuse to pay."
Following the rally, Corbyn tweeted to say the gathering had been an 'epic success', before saying he had been arrested 'under new Cov19 +£10k Fixed Penalty fine as Organiser'.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a 73-year-old man was arrested on Saturday at 3.25pm in Trafalgar Square on suspicion of breaking the new Health Protection Regulations 2020.
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A statement from the Met adds that the man was informed on Sunday that a fixed penalty notice would be issued for £10,000, for the offence of 'holding a gathering of more than 30 people in an outdoor public place'. It also confirmed that he has been released from custody.
Metropolitan Police Commander Bas Javid said in a statement to the Evening Standard that officers had been working 'tirelessly' to remind local communities that 'we remain in a health pandemic'.
"Our interaction and intervention saw the majority of people gathered disperse," he said.
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"Five people have been spoken to in relation to the new legislation."
Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: UK News, News, Coronavirus, London
