# London police arrest 29 at Palestine Action protest on the day the group is proscribed
London police arrested 29 people after a demonstration in support of Palestine Action in Westminster, as the group’s proscription under UK terrorism law took effect.
The Metropolitan Police said those detained were arrested on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 and taken into custody. Images from Parliament Square showed a small group holding placards that read: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” Officers were seen surrounding protesters and leading one woman away in handcuffs.
The arrests came after lawyers acting for Palestine Action failed on Friday to block the ban in court. That meant that, from Saturday, membership of the group or public expressions of support became a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act 2000, carrying a potential sentence of up to 14 years in prison.
Police said earlier that officers were responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square and warned that expressing support for the group was now a criminal offence. The protest had been flagged in advance by Defend Our Juries, which had written to Met commissioner Mark Rowley to say placards backing the group would be displayed.
The ban followed the government’s move to proscribe Palestine Action after what it said was about £7 million of damage to aircraft at RAF Brize Norton in a protest the group said it was behind. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper had described the damage to two military aircraft as “disgraceful” and said the organisation had a long history of criminal damage.
Palestine Action has mainly targeted arms companies since the start of the war in Gaza. In court, its co-founder Huda Ammori challenged the move, with barrister Raza Husain KC arguing that banning the group was an “authoritarian abuse” of power. High Court judge Mr Justice Chamberlain refused the request for a temporary block, saying the claim was not enough to outweigh the public interest in keeping the order in force.
The day’s arrests are likely to become part of a wider debate over protest, proscription and the scope of terrorism law. Supporters of the ban argue it reflects the seriousness of criminal damage and the need to protect public order. Opponents say it stretches counter-terrorism powers into a political dispute.
For now, the legal position is clear: Palestine Action is proscribed, and public support for the group can now lead to arrest.
Sources
- BBC News, sourceId 5925, on the London arrests, the court failure and the legal effect of proscription.
- BBC News, sourceId 5925, on the government’s reason for banning the group and the protest’s timing.
