- Over 200 people arrested in London for displaying signs supporting banned activist group Palestine Action.
- Group outlawed in July under UK anti-terror laws after damage to military property.
- Rights organisations call the arrests a threat to free speech; court challenge pending.
London’s Metropolitan Police detained more than 200 demonstrators at Parliament Square on Saturday during a protest in support of Palestine Action, a group banned last month under the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000.
The UK government banned Palestine Action following high-profile incidents, including a break-in at an RAF base that caused millions in damage. Officials allege the group has been involved in violent acts and significant property destruction.
Mass Arrests in London as Protesters Defy Ban on Palestine Action
The protest began around midday, drawing a mix of demonstrators, media personnel, and bystanders. While police estimated 500–600 people were present, organisers claimed more than 1,000 participants, though this was disputed by the Metropolitan Police. Some attendees, including former Guantanamo detainee Moazzam Begg, were among those taken into custody.
Those arrested faced varying outcomes: individuals who provided personal details were released on bail under conditions barring them from attending future pro-Palestine Action events, while those who refused identification remained in custody. Four additional arrests were made for alleged assaults on police officers during the operation.
The government’s move to proscribe Palestine Action came after years of its high-profile campaigns targeting UK companies linked to Israeli military supplies. Ministers have argued that the group’s tactics—including property damage and blockades—pose risks to public safety and national security.
Human rights advocates counter that the ban criminalises political dissent and blurs the line between civil disobedience and terrorism. Amnesty International has formally urged the police to exercise restraint, warning that such mass arrests could breach international human rights obligations.
The mass arrests in London mark one of the most visible clashes between UK authorities and pro-Palestinian activists since the group’s ban, underscoring the growing tension between national security enforcement and the right to protest.
As civil liberties advocate Benjamin Franklin once warned, “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
