A huge crowd descended on the Chinese embassy in London to hold a vigil and protest after ten people died in a residential block fire in Ürümqi, north-west China (November 27).

This was one of many gatherings arranged globally and in cities across China, including Wuhan and Shanghai.

The fire occured on the 24th November, when residents locked in their block of flats were unable to escape and the fire brigade could not reach the building due to a boundary gate being closed.

Attendees lit candles for the deceased, whilst in a highly-unusual move for mainlanders, criticised the Chinese Communist Party, holding up blank pieces of paper in anti-censorship protest, denounced zero-Covid policies and chanted, 'Xi Jinping, stand down!'