In one of the largest protest-related crackdowns in recent years, London police arrested 466 people on Saturday for showing support for the banned activist group Palestine Action. The arrests took place in central London after the British government classified the group as a terrorist organization under anti-terror laws.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that, by 9 p.m., hundreds had been detained for expressing backing for Palestine Action. Eight others were arrested for separate offences, including five for assaulting officers, though no serious injuries were reported.
Why Palestine Action Was Banned
Palestine Action is a UK-based activist group that targets weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli government. Lawmakers recently voted to outlaw the group after two of its members broke into Britain’s largest air base in June, damaging military aircraft.
The ban makes it illegal to be a member of or publicly support the group — placing it in the same legal category as Hamas, al-Qaeda, and ISIS.
Protests and Police Response
Despite warnings, large crowds gathered at Parliament Square, many holding signs reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” Organizers claimed over 1,000 attended, though police estimated 500–600 people, including onlookers and media.
An 80-year-old protester from Surrey told CNN she wanted to highlight “what a farce” the ban was, adding that police couldn’t arrest everyone at once.
Police said anyone holding a placard in support of Palestine Action was arrested or in the process of being detained. Those arrested were taken to processing centers in Westminster and bailed with conditions banning them from future pro-Palestine Action protests.
Mixed Reactions
While Home Secretary Yvette Cooper praised police for handling those “whose actions crossed the line into criminality,” Amnesty International UK condemned the arrests as a breach of international obligations on freedom of expression and assembly.
Palestine Action’s co-founder, Huda Ammori, has been granted permission to challenge the ban in a judicial review. The legal battle is expected to intensify in the coming months.
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