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The Metropolitan Police arrested 55 protesters in central London who were holding placards showing support for Palestine Action. This is the third weekend in a row that demonstrations against the government’s designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist group have ended with mass arrests in the capital, following 42 arrests last weekend.
According to police, the arrests began on Saturday after protesters displayed white signs reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square. Officers quickly surrounded the group and detained them under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which prohibits support for banned organizations. Some demonstrators were carried away, while others were led off in handcuffs. A small group of counter-protesters was also present, holding signs that read, “There is no genocide but there are 50 hostages still captive.”
Elsewhere, in Truro, Cornwall, eight people were arrested during a similar demonstration, according to the group Defend Our Juries. Police in Devon and Cornwall said about 30 people took part in a peaceful protest, but some continued to display illegal placards despite warnings. The eight individuals — two men and six women — were arrested under the same section of the Terrorism Act and remain in custody.
The Metropolitan Police reported that 70 people had already been arrested at similar protests in Parliament Square over the previous two weekends, and Defend Our Juries claimed a total of 120 arrests have occurred across the UK so far.
The protests come ahead of a High Court hearing scheduled for Monday, where Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, will seek permission to challenge the Home Secretary’s decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism legislation. Under the ban, anyone who joins or supports the group could face up to 14 years in prison.
An increased police presence is expected in Westminster this weekend to oversee both the Defend Our Juries protest in Parliament Square and a separate large-scale march to Whitehall organized by the Palestine Coalition. Additionally, a counter-protest organized by Stop the Hate will take place at the Strand and Waterloo Bridge intersection, where the main march route passes.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who is overseeing the policing operation, warned officers would be especially vigilant about chants similar to “Death to the IDF,” which sparked controversy after being led by a performer at the Glastonbury Festival and is now under police investigation.
He noted that at past protests the areas between the main march and counter-protests have been the most tense, and officers would work with stewards to keep people moving through these zones while watching for criminal behavior.
Mr. Adelekan emphasized that supporting Palestine Action is likely to constitute a criminal offense under the Terrorism Act and warned of the long-term consequences of such an arrest — including impacts on travel, employment, and finances. He urged demonstrators to avoid “threatening, abusive, and insulting language” and to steer clear of supporting banned groups if they want to remain within the law.
