London authorities detained 29 individuals following the recent prohibition of a pro-Palestinian activist organization in the UK. The arrests occurred in the capital as they showed support for Palestine Action, a group that was newly banned. “We arrested 29 individuals during a protest supporting the proscribed group Palestine Action at Parliament Square. All remain in our custody,” the Metropolitan Police announced on X on Saturday night. Earlier, officials stated the arrests were for “suspected violations under the Terrorism Act 2000.” They clarified that since Palestine Action is outlawed, any criminal acts linked to it will be addressed by law enforcement.
According to the advocacy group Defend Our Juries, among those apprehended were a cleric and several healthcare workers. Demonstrators had been seen holding signs that read: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” A spokesperson from Defend Our Juries praised the Counter Terrorism police for intervening against the protest’s messaging. Observers criticized the arrests when officers arrived to disband the gathering around midday local time (11:00 GMT), with some shouting, “The police are acting under Zionist influence” and “leave the protesters alone,” as reported by a British news agency.
Participants not directly connected to the Palestine Action rally questioned the authorities, asking, “Who are you protecting? Who do you serve?” and called for the police to stay off public streets. Supporters also chanted, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Authorities warned on Friday that publicly supporting Palestine Action would become illegal once the group’s ban was enforced at midnight. This encompasses chanting, wearing clothing, or displaying any supportive symbols like flags, signs, or logos.
The organization’s prohibition was finalized by Parliament on Thursday, after an attempt to contest it in court did not succeed the following day. The UK government declared its intention to ban Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000, after members of the group infiltrated an air force base in southern England, inflicting damage estimated at 7 million pounds ($9.55m) by spraying two aircraft with red paint. On Thursday, four activists associated with Palestine Action remained in custody following a court appearance related to these events. Legal expert Laura O’Brien, a partner at Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors, noted that displaying placards supporting Palestine Action could result in up to six months of imprisonment according to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. “Membership or support can lead to sentences of up to 14 years,” she stated.
Palestine Action criticized the group’s ban as detrimental to free expression. Anas Mustapha, leading public advocacy for CAGE International, criticized the move, calling it a “dangerous precedent” that could allow the state to target any dissenting protest without legal restriction. He further discussed the measure as undermining the right to protest, a core principle of democracy in Britain.
