Police nab additional Palestine Action supporters
London Police Crack Down on Palestine Action Protesters
Arrests Follow UK Ban on Activist Group
Police in London arrested 41 demonstrators who were holding signs in support of Palestine Action on a second Saturday, a week after the group was proscribed under anti‑terror laws.
Metropolitan Police officers made the arrests on Parliament Square, where a small crowd had gathered at lunchtime. A follow‑up update noted that the area was cleared within the last hour and that an individual had also been taken in for common assault.
Critics Call the Ban “Orwellian”
Campaign group Defend Our Juries had announced a series of rallies across the UK to defy the ban. A spokesperson criticised the police response and described the legislation as “Orwellian.”
“Who do the police think they are serving in this?” the spokesperson asked, warning that the ban now makes it a criminal offence to invite or express support for a proscribed organisation.
Political and Legal Context
- Banned on July 5 after activists claimed responsibility for a break‑in at an air force base in southern England, where aircraft were sprayed with red paint, costing an estimated £7 million.
- High Court challenge failed to stop the ban becoming law under the Terrorism Act 2000.
- Support for Palestine Action is now punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Police Warn of Consequences
The Met warned that, before the planned protests on Saturday, expressing support for the banned group would be a crime. “As we saw last week, those who breach the law will face action,” the police said on X.
