are gathered this evening near the houses of parliament — earlier they lay on the ground for a minutes silence. the foreign secretary makes another call for the immediate release of british—iranian nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe — after she faces new allegations of anti—government propaganda in court. authorities in the republic of ireland recommend temporarily suspending use of the astrazeneca vaccine, after a report of four new cases of blood clotting incidents in adults who'd had the jab in norway. and it's the music industry's biggest awards night of the year, the grammys. they're being held at a virtual ceremony in los angeles. good evening. the commissioner of the metropolitan police, has defended the tactics of herforce, in breaking up last night's vigil for sarah everard, the 33—year—old woman whose body was found in woodland on wednesday. dame cressida dick said she welcomed an independent review into what happened. but that anyone "who wasn't in the operation, cannot pass detailed comment". officers made several arrests, saying the gathering risked covid infections, but critics say police tactics were heavy handed. mps will debate a new bill this week giving forces wider powers, in dealing with public gatherings and demonstrations. this report from our home editor mark easton contains flash photography. within moments of being taken, this picture of police holding down a woman on clapham common last night became a symbol of female defiance against male aggression. as darkness descended on the vigil for sarah everard, what had been a peaceful and respectful demonstration of female solidarity turned ugly. police moved in to disperse the crowd, there was pushing and shoving, with a number of women taken away in handcuffs. four of them were arrested for public order and coronavirus regulation breaches — among them, jada. as i was sat in the van, as my hands were handcuffed, i wasjust thinking... "gosh, all i wanted was to stand with other women." the fear that has been brewing for years from a very young age, we get harassed and we are aware of the abuse and violence against women. as the police around the bandstand, emotions intensified. the? as the police around the bandstand, emotions intensified.— emotions intensified. they grabbed me, the emotions intensified. they grabbed me. they was _ emotions intensified. they grabbed me, they was being _ emotions intensified. they grabbed me, they was being really - me, they was being really aggressive, they put me in the handcuffs, the beautiful women stood with me. one of them, as the pictures are circulating, she was thrown to the floor. she had police officers on her back with their knees, their feet. the police are saying that they had to act for public safety reasons. i personally didn't see anyone being at risk. the sight of women who had come together to stand against male violence being manhandled has led to a chorus of criticism from across the political spectrum. the labour mayor of london, sadiq khan, called the scenes "unacceptable". demanding the commissioner of the met dame cressida dick expensive for the meeting in city hall today and official inquiry was ordered by the homes of priti patel as dame procedure defended her officers. they have to make these really difficult because and i don't think anybody should be sitting back in an armchair and saying what that was done badly or i would've done it differently. done badly or i would've done it differently-— differently. without actually understanding _ differently. without actually understanding what - differently. without actually understanding what was - differently. without actually l understanding what was going differently. without actually - understanding what was going to their minds. the understanding what was going to their minds-_ understanding what was going to their minds. ~ ., ,., ., ., . their minds. the metropolitan police were already — their minds. the metropolitan police were already being _ their minds. the metropolitan police were already being investigated - their minds. the metropolitan police were already being investigated for i were already being investigated for a fence around the sarah everard murder inquiry. now scotland yard pence metres find themselves under increasing pressure. the pence metres find themselves under increasing pressure.— increasing pressure. the focus throu . h increasing pressure. the focus through this — increasing pressure. the focus through this week _ increasing pressure. the focus through this week and - increasing pressure. the focus through this week and should | increasing pressure. the focus l through this week and should be unser everett and her family but it is right also that the police explained her actions. they should've — explained her actions. they should've been _ explained her actions. they should've been allowed - explained her actions. they should've been allowed to i explained her actions. they should've been allowed to protest, to have _ should've been allowed to protest, to have their visual, to come together— to have their visual, to come together in peace and i was very disturbed — together in peace and i was very disturbed to see the police action. ithink_ disturbed to see the police action. i think it _ disturbed to see the police action. i think it was wrong and i'm pleased it's now_ i think it was wrong and i'm pleased it's now going to be reviewed. there is evidence — it's now going to be reviewed. there is evidence to _ it's now going to be reviewed. there is evidence to suggest _ it's now going to be reviewed. there is evidence to suggest that - it's now going to be reviewed. tie- is evidence to suggest that some of those who attended the picture had been looking for trouble and that police had been criticised before for not intervening in protest during the pandemic, notably by the home secretary. this evening, a crowd of protesters gathered outside scotland yard presenting a new challenge to the police's ability to handle the outpouring of anguish sparred by sarah everard's death. up to now come at the met stands accused of getting it better be wrong. mark easton, bbc news. sarah everard's death has shone a critical light on the issues of violence against women, and the safety of our streets. our correspondent, katy austin, has been to clapham in south london, to speak to some of the women who attended last night's vigil, about why it was important to go. catherine and ana maria made the short walk from their homes to clapham common this afternoon. i mainly wanted to be pay respects to sarah everard and herfamily. it's had a massive impact on me as a woman, living around here, and i think it has so many others. both went to last night's vigil despite being aware of lockdown rules. they say they wore masks and kept social distance. we couldn't not go because it affects every single one of us. it is rare for a woman to be abducted off the street, but in recent days many women have been sharing other experiences on social media of feeling afraid, being harassed, or assaulted. there were just so many posts all about what happened, about sarah everard, but also just in general. it's resonated with everyone i know, not only in the south—west of london but everyone that i know has a story. the sea of flowers at the bandstand continued to swell today. people stood in reflective silence. the number of tributes which have been left and the number of people still coming here today is just one sign of how widely sarah's story has resonated. naomi also chose to attend yesterday. i didn't like being told that i wasn't allowed to. she felt it was too important. looking at sarah, you just think it could have been me or it could have been my friends or it could have been my loved ones so easily. and just to carry that fear around with you everyday, itjust weighs you down. a week that's included international women's day and mother's day has also seen mourning for the shocking loss of a woman's life and a wider national conversation about male violence and female safety. katy austin, bbc news. there has been another protest or march today in central london. it started at new scotland yard. i think we have pictures from there. it ended up in parliament square. people wanting to have a minutes silence for what happened yesterday and of course for sarah everard herself in place of that vigil was fish was banned from the police would not allow it to go ahead investment as we were hearing. —— which was banned. we seat several hundred people there. we have a tweet from the met office in the last couple minutes. which doesn't seem to be the case. —— which does seem to be the case for some let's go to parliament square and our correspondent vishala sri pathnam. it does seem everyone has gone. i think there was a few people left with placards but in the last hour, we have seen people leave parliament square for supper earlier in the day as you mentioned, tim, organisers were expecting a few hundred people at the protest today. turn out wise, it probably exceeded those expectations. they did feel like a lot more people than what people were expecting. what the distinct difference from today compared to yesterday at that vigil in clapham common held for sarah everard was yesterday was a more sombre affair, it was about women's rights to be safe. today it was very much directed at the police. people with signs criticising the police, refuting what they describe as police brutality. there was certainly aggressive chanting but there weren't the clashes we saw yesterday. today it was a peaceful protest, largely socially distanced particularly here at permits where we have more space as well. they had quite a few —— we spoke to a few purchases and they said today was another gathering and a plan to have more in the week. —— spoke to a few protesters. more in the week. -- spoke to a few protestem— protesters. thank you so much. our correspondent _ protesters. thank you so much. our correspondent there. _ our home affairs editor mark easton says the strength of feeling could result in policy being. i , this could result in long lasting change. , this could result in long lasting chance. ., ., , ., change. there are moments, there are catal sts change. there are moments, there are catalysts for — change. there are moments, there are catalysts for public _ change. there are moments, there are catalysts for public mood _ change. there are moments, there are catalysts for public mood to _ change. there are moments, there are catalysts for public mood to change, i catalysts for public mood to change, for the politics to change and we saw that with the black lives matter movement and the death of george floyd and perhaps we are seeing the same thing but the death of the sarah everard, that this eruption of emotion and anger reflect on a change and forces a rethink. the political unanimity about the need for an investigation into the police and their handling of the vigil and wider concerns about the way that they handled the murder inquiry. i think that reflects a sense that perhaps the wind has changed because as well as her meeting with the london mayor sadiq khan today at city hall, dame cressida all will you make also attended a meeting with the premise or borisjohnson @ downing street, a sign of how important this issue has become. dame suggests that she has no intention of resigning and the premise are and both the labour leader keir starmer both have confidence in her leadership but this is not over. mark easton with that analysis there. authorities in the republic of ireland have recommended temporarily suspending use of the astrazeneca vaccine while investigations are carried out into four new reports of blood clotting in patients who've received the jab in norway. the uk regulator the mhra said the evidence does not suggest the astrazeneca vaccine is the cause — our correspondent louise cullen is following this story. the deputy chief medical officer in the republic made the announcement this morning in a statement following those reports of thrombolytic events, clots and bleeds and so on, across europe there have been around 30 of these events reported from europe, but thatis events reported from europe, but that is in the context of around 5 million europeans getting the oxford/astrazeneca jab. but as of this morning, i hasjoined a list of countries that have either suspended the astrazeneca vaccine or have suspended the use of certain batches of it. that was includes norway, denmark, italy, estonia and other several european nations as well. astrazeneca has been given in the republic of ireland around 1,000 thousand times, that is a fit of the vaccines being administered. it is been used in the uk more than 11 million times and the regular to hear the uk says there is no evidence of excess deaths or clots reported in association with the it's important to say that the european regulator at the ema and the world health organization have also said there is no evidence of the link between the vaccine and the strong political events. astrazeneca says clots are naturally occurring and that the numbers that are being reported are no greater than what would be expected in an unvaccinated population. the national immunisation advisory committee in the republic has been meeting this morning following that announcement and we are expecting an update from them sometime today. that and we are expecting an update from them sometime today.— them sometime today. that meeting thou:h not them sometime today. that meeting though not yet _ them sometime today. that meeting though not yet over. _ the latest coronavirus figures show infections continuing to fall, though weekend numbers tend to be lower due to reporting delays. let's ta ke let's take you through the numbers. there were 4,618 new cases recorded in the latest 24—hour period, which means on average the number of new cases reported per day in the last week, is 5,703. there were 52 deaths reported, that's of people who died within 28 days of a positive covid—19 test, which means on average, 145 people died every day in the last week from coronavirus, taking the total to 125,516. over half a million people have had their first dose of a covid vaccine in the latest 24—hour period, and as we've heard that means a total of more than 2a million people have now had theirfirstjab, and more than one and a half million, have had both doses, of the vaccine. around two million vulnerable people are being sent texts from nhs england this weekend, urging them to book their coronavirus vaccination. those with pre—existing medical conditions such as diabetes and certain types of cancer, who've not yet received a letterfrom their gp, will be able to make an appointment. here's our health correspondent, anna collinson. ciara lawrence has a learning disability, she was nervous about getting vaccinated so on the day, told the nurse. i told her i did not like needles and she prepared it away from me and she came from behind me, and as she was doing it my husband was there to talk to me and distract me. my message for those people who are afraid of having the jab is don't be worried, don't be scared. there are calls for millions more vulnerable people with underlying health conditions to follow her lead. more than 7 million people are in group six and have been prioritised because they are more likely to become seriously unwell from coronavirus. the group includes those with underlying health conditions like cancer and heart disease, their carers and people with learning disabilities. as part of a renewed call to help some of the most vulnerable, leading charities including mencap have published an open letter urging them to consider booking their coronavirus jab. overall, more than 2a million people have now been vaccinated, but there still a long way to go. but there's still a long way to go. this morning, the republic of ireland announced it was suspending using the oxford/astrazeneca jab afterfour people in norway developed blood clots. but the uk's regulator the mhra insists available evidence did not suggest the vaccine was the cause. the vaccine roll—out has been a success but that doesn't mean covid—19 will not continue to pose a threat. we need also to recognise that this is a virus that is not going to go away and i have no doubt that in the autumn, there will be a further wave of infections. so as restrictions continue to be lifted, like the reopening of schools in england this week, the scientific community will be watching the data closely for any causes for concern. anna collinson, bbc news. 16 minutes past six. you are watching bbc news. the headlines on bbc news... the head of the met police says she does not intend to resign and welcomes a review into the police's handling of last night's vigil for sarah everard. hundreds of demonstrators are gathered this evening near the houses of parliament — earlier they lay on the ground for a minutes' silence. they have now dispersed. the foreign secretary makes another call for the immediate release of british—iranian nazanin zaghari—ratcliffe,after she faces new allegations of anti—government propaganda in court. a report by mps says the british army's tanks and armoured vehicles are in a "deplorable" state, which would see the uk outgunned in any conflict. the report says the ministry of defence has squandered hundreds of millions of pounds, partly because of �*bureaucratic procrastination and military indecision'. our defence correspondentjonathan beale has that story. borisjohnson says the upcoming defence review will end an era of retreat and transform britain's armed forces. but this report raises serious questions as to whether the ministry of defence can deliver on that promise. mps say the army's ageing fleet of tanks and armoured vehicles are in a deplorable state, outmatched and outgunned by both allies and potential adversaries. what we are seeing is a diminution in our conventional hard power capability, ourability to do expeditionary warfare. we have an obligation to nato to provide a warfighting division, we now can't really do that any more. the report says the mod has already squandered large amounts of money with little to show for it. the mod spent £400 million to modernise hundreds of these warrior armoured vehicles, but now the entire programme is expected to be scrapped. mps describe it as a woeful story of bureaucratic procrastination, military indecision, financial mismanagement, and general ineptitude. i welcome any plan to modernise the army's equipment, certainly over the years, some of it has been neglected and that's long overdue, but by modernising for example a tank, you've got to be very careful that you don't produce a really exquisite piece of equipment but don't necessarily have it in enough numbers or don't have enough people to crew those vehicles. the mod insists a significant increase in funding for defence will deliver an upgraded armour force to meet the threats of the future but the defence review is still expected to cut the number of tanks and armoured vehicles. mps say the army's armoured capabilities today are at risk of being denuded on the promise of technically advanced jam tomorrow. jonathan beale, bbc news. the local media in myanmar is reporting that at least 14 protesters have been killed today by security forces in yangon. a police officers also reported to have died as clashes between the miliary and anti—coup protesters continue for a sixth week. martial law has been declared in two areas of yangon. and after two china owned factories were attacked — beijing has asked the authorities to protect its businesses. the bbc burmese's nyein chan aye is in yangon. deadly crackdowns on previous days cannot stop these people t