the Sidney Street siege
/ðə ˌsɪdni striːt ˈsiːdʒ/
/ðə ˌsɪdni striːt ˈsiːdʒ/
- an incident that took place in the East End of London in 1911. Two anarchists (= people who believe there should be no laws or government) were trapped and finally killed in a house surrounded by police officers and soldiers. It is mainly remembered because Winston Churchill, who was then Home Secretary, directed the police operation personally, and was much criticized for it.