UK arrests 200 after massive support for banned pro‑Palestine group.
Britain’s Terrorism Act Bans Palestine Action, Police Arrest 200+ Protesters
London Metropolitan Police detained at least 200 supporters of the proscribed group during a Saturday demonstration in Parliament Square, the largest protest since the July 5 ban under the country’s anti‑terror laws.
Police Statement Highlights Arrest Strategy
- The Met confirmed it will continue arrests, noting organizers claimed only a “fraction” of attendees had been detained.
- The police clarified that many onlookers were not visibly supporting the group.
- They emphasized that any protester holding a placard in support of Palestine Action would either be arrested or be in the process of being arrested.
Grounds for the Group’s Proscription
The ban followed a series of violent incidents, most notably the break‑in of activists at an air force base in southern England, causing an estimated £7 million ($9.3 million) in damage to two aircraft. The interior ministry reiterated that its members were suspected of “serious attacks” involving “violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage.”
International Criticism and Human Rights Concerns
Critics, including the United Nations and NGOs such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace, have condemned the move as a legal overreach that threatens free speech. The ban is viewed as “unprecedented.”
Defend Our Juries Calls for Continued Action
The group organising Saturday’s protest, Defend Our Juries, warned that “unprecedented numbers” risk “arrest and possible imprisonment” to defend the country’s ancient liberties. They stated they will keep going, with numbers already growing for the next wave of action in September.
Day‑of‑Action Slogans and Participant Reactions
Attendees gathered near Parliament at lunchtime bearing signs such as “oppose genocide, support Palestine Action” and waving Palestinian flags.
Psychotherapist Craig Bell, 39, branded the ban “absolutely ridiculous” and compared the group to an actual terrorist organization, saying it was a joke that they were being prescribed a terrorist group.
As police moved in, many protestors applauded those being arrested, shouted “shame on you” at officers, and expressed their resolve: “Let them arrest us all,” said Richard Bull, 42, a wheelchair user in attendance. “This government has gone too far. I have nothing to feel ashamed of.”
Legal Status and Charges for Supporters
London’s Met Police and other UK forces have made scores of similar arrests on previous weekends since the ban. Anyone expressing support for a proscribed group risks arrest under UK anti‑terror laws.
Police announced this week that the first three people had been charged on the English and Welsh criminal justice system with supporting Palestine Action following their July 5 demo arrests. Being a member or supporting the group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Seven people have so far been charged in Scotland, which has a separate legal system.
Amnesty International UK Urges Police Restraint
Amnesty International UK Chief Executive Sacha Deshmukh wrote to Met Police chief Mark Rowley this week, urging restraint to be exercised when policing people holding placards expressing support for Palestine Action. The NGO argues arrests of such people are a breach of international human rights law.
A UK court challenge against the decision to proscribe Palestine Action will be heard later this year.
