Nearly 500 people were arrested during a pro-Palestine demonstration in central London Saturday as protesters defied police pleas to postpone the rally following a terror attack on a Manchester synagogue two days earlier.
The Metropolitan Police reported 492 arrests throughout the day, with detainees ranging in age from 18 to 89 years old. The force said 297 remained in custody while the rest were released on bail following the demonstration organized by Defend Our Juries to protest the government’s ban on Palestine Action.
Crowds gathered in Trafalgar Square to call on the government to reverse its July decision to add Palestine Action to the United Kingdom’s list of proscribed terrorist groups. Protest organizers claimed 1,000 people attended the event to “oppose genocide and the Palestine Action ban.”
Six people were arrested before the demonstration even began after unfurling banners reading “I oppose genocide” and “I support Palestine Action” on Westminster Bridge. The bulk of arrests occurred in Trafalgar Square, where protesters held placards expressing support for the banned organization.
The Metropolitan Police said a separate group of protesters also gathered in Whitehall before attempting to reach Trafalgar Square, where the main demonstration was taking place.
Many of those arrested throughout the day were older individuals. Photographs showed people with walking sticks or in wheelchairs being assisted by police, while others were physically carried to processing areas after refusing to cooperate with officers.
Mike Higgins, a 62-year-old blind protester who uses a wheelchair, told the PA news agency that demonstrators remained determined despite the arrests. “We are going to win this battle, by the way, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “The problem for me is that I want to win it now to try and bring an end to the suffering in Palestine.”
The Metropolitan Police had urged Defend Our Juries to postpone the event in light of the Manchester synagogue attack that occurred in Crumpsall two days before the planned demonstration.
Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley expressed concern that resources would be stretched and the force’s ability to protect communities would be compromised as a result of the protest. His warning reflected heightened tensions in Jewish communities following the Manchester attack.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer issued a statement on X Saturday morning urging anyone considering protesting to “recognise and respect the grief of British Jews.” Jewish community leaders characterized the decision to proceed with the demonstration as “phenomenally tone deaf” given the timing.
In a letter to Ade Adelekan, deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Defend Our Juries defended their decision to proceed with the protest as planned. The organization stated that “the protection of our democracy and the prevention of countless deaths are critical issues” that necessitated moving forward despite police requests.
The protest highlighted ongoing tensions surrounding Palestine Action, which the UK government designated as a proscribed terrorist organization in July. The group has faced legal action for activities targeting companies connected to Israel’s defense industry.
The demonstration represented one of the largest mass arrest operations by the Metropolitan Police in recent memory, with the force detaining protesters for displaying support for a proscribed organization. British law prohibits expressing support for groups on the government’s terrorism list.
The arrests included individuals from diverse age groups, though the significant presence of elderly protesters drew particular attention. Images of senior citizens being processed by police sparked discussions about protest rights and government restrictions on political expression.
Defend Our Juries organized the demonstration specifically to challenge the government’s proscription of Palestine Action, arguing that the designation threatens democratic freedoms and the right to political dissent. The group maintains that Palestine Action’s activities constitute legitimate protest rather than terrorism.
The timing of the protest, coming just two days after the Manchester synagogue attack, created significant controversy within Jewish communities who viewed the demonstration as insensitive to their security concerns and grief. Jewish leaders had called for the protest to be postponed or canceled entirely.
The Metropolitan Police faced the challenging task of balancing protest rights with community sensitivities while managing security concerns raised by the recent synagogue attack. The force’s decision to proceed with policing the demonstration while making hundreds of arrests reflected the difficult position authorities occupied.
The protest and resulting arrests are likely to fuel ongoing debates about the limits of political expression in the United Kingdom, particularly regarding contentious international conflicts and the government’s use of proscription powers to restrict certain forms of activism.
Palestine Action has previously engaged in direct action targeting facilities and companies it claims are complicit in Israeli military operations, leading to property damage and disruption. Supporters characterize these actions as legitimate protest, while critics and law enforcement view them as criminal activity warranting the group’s terrorist designation.
The scale of arrests Saturday demonstrates the Metropolitan Police’s commitment to enforcing laws prohibiting support for proscribed organizations, even as civil liberties advocates question whether such restrictions unduly limit political speech and peaceful assembly rights.
