Arrests Made at Pro-Palestinian Demonstration in London

The Metropolitan Police confirmed arrests have been made at the latest Palestine Action protest in London. Demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square, Westminster, on Saturday afternoon, with parallel protests also taking place in Belfast and Edinburgh.

Within minutes of the protest’s official start, the Met announced the first arrests on X. One protester was seen being detained as the crowd chanted “shame on you.”

Palestine Action was designated a terrorist organisation on 5 July after MPs voted to ban it, making public support for the group a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act. Police reminded protesters that they would arrest anyone committing such offences.

Marchers in London moved through Parliament Square and Whitehall, where speeches began around 2pm. The Met stated the demonstration must end by 5:30pm. Officers were also deployed to prevent clashes between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and counter-protesters.

The rally was organised by Defend Our Juries, which expected over 1,000 participants and urged them to carry signs reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

At a previous large-scale demonstration, more than 530 arrests were made. To handle the numbers, police issued “street bail,” allowing protesters to be released with instructions to attend a police station later.

Ahead of Saturday’s protest, organisers advised participants to refuse street bail, arguing that mass non-compliance would make it impossible for police to detain everyone and would increase pressure on authorities. The Met Police later described this tactic as “misguided.”

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