Shocking moment balaclava wearing bike gang prevent police van from attending a 999 call in London

A video posted on social media shows the shocking moment a balaclava wearing bike gang attempted to stop a police van from attending a 999 call in London. 

The disturbing incident apparently took place yesterday on Whitechapel Road and after being posted on X, formerly Twitter, it has been viewed over 170,000 times. 

In the footage, a balaclava-clad thug on a bike can be seen seemingly giving the middle finger to the police officer behind the wheel as they prevent the van from driving any further. 

The trouble-causing cyclist is then joined by others who blatantly ignore the van’s blaring sirens and continue to block its path. 

The police van then attempts to reverse in a possible attempt to get around the hooligans. However, the same biker, who rudely gestured at the coppers seconds earlier, follows them and begins aggressively kicking the vehicle.

Eventually, the thugs relent and allow the police van to carry on its journey. The camera then pans out to reveal dozens of other cyclists loitering along the busy East London road.  

Some small children can also be seen amongst the large crowds. 

In another lawless incident in the capital yesterday, the Metropolitan Police clashed with pro-Palestine demonstrators. Hundreds of people gathered in London as the police struggled to keep the crows under control.

The chaotic footage shows dozens of officers appearing to jostle with protesters on Curzon Street, Mayfair, in an attempt to keep them out of the road with umbrellas getting crushed in the crowds and some people having to step over bikes parked on the pavement.

When police eventually formed a cordon in the area, demonstrators held up banners and shouted through megaphones as the crowds grew. 

The police also struggled to keep a group of charging protesters under control as they rushed down the street. 

Policing in London has become a hot button issue for the candidates in this year’s Mayoral election. 

The incumbent Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan claims on his campaign website that he will be: ‘tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime’ and says keeping London safe and reforming the Met is his ‘top priority.’ 

Meanwhile, Susan Hall, the Tory candidate who wants Mr Khan’s job, has promised to ‘get a grip on crime’ if she wins the election on May 2. 

MailOnline has approached the Metropolitan Police for a comment.