More than 40 Palestine Action protestors have been arrested by police after the organisation was designated a terrorist group. Activists gathered today (July 12) in London following 29 arrests at a similar protest last week.
People marched in Parliament Square this afternoon for the demonstration organised by Defend Our Juries. People wrote “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” on cardboard and held them up in front of Met Police officers.
At 1.20pm, the Met released a statement on X that said: “We are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action. Officers are in the process of making arrests. We will issue any updates on this thread.”
Activists were led or carried away by police to nearby vans. Officers also searched their bags and took IDs.
Met Police confirmed that 41 people were arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed terrorist group and one person for common assault. Among those arrested was 83-year-old former priest, the Rev Sue Parfitt.
Defend Our Juries said on X: “Over 300 police officers have been seen to carry away dozens of people from the foot of statues of Nelson Mandela and Gandhi for alleged ‘terrorism offences’. Those arrested are accused of holding signs in support of Palestine Action.”
The Met Police said supporting the so-called terrorist group includes “chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos”. Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The decision to name the group a terrorist orgnisation came after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20 and defaced two Voyager aircraft with spray paint.
UN experts, civil liberties groups, cultural figures and hundreds of lawyers have condemned the ban as draconian and said it sets a dangerous precedent by conflating protest with terrorism.
Palestine Action is the first direct action protest group to be banned under the Terrorism Act, placing it in the same category as Islamic State, al-Qaida and the far-right group National Action.