London’s Metropolitan Police arrested more than 20 protesters in Parliament Square on Saturday during a demonstration supporting the newly banned group Palestine Action. Those detained face potential terrorism charges carrying up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000, which officially proscribed the group earlier that day.
The arrests came hours after Justice Chamberlain rejected Palestine Action’s emergency bid to block its terrorism designation, calling the challenge insufficient against the “public interest” in maintaining the ban. Protesters had gathered near the Mahatma Gandhi statue holding signs reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”—statements now deemed criminal under UK law.
Defend Our Juries, the organizing group, had preemptively notified Met Commissioner Mark Rowley about the demonstration. In a sardonic post-arrest statement, they questioned why Counter Terrorism Command prioritized “cardboard placards over actual threats.”
Government Cites £7M in Damages
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper spearheaded the ban after RAF Brize Norton sustained £7 million in damages during a recent Palestine Action protest targeting military aircraft. The group, known for disrupting arms companies tied to Israel, has defended its tactics as necessary to oppose “UK complicity in Gaza genocide.”
Raza Husain KC, representing co-founder Huda Ammori, condemned the ban as“authoritarian overreach” during Friday’s court hearing. The designation effectively criminalizes all support for the group, including social media posts.
Why It Matters
The protest occurred amid ongoing violence in Gaza, where the Hamas-run health ministry reports 57,000+ deaths since Israel’s offensive began following Hamas’ October 7 attacks (which killed 1,200 Israelis). While Israel denies genocide allegations (this is currently under review at the International Court of Justice), the conflict continues to galvanize global protests.
