London (BN24) – London police said more than 500 people were arrested over the weekend during pro-Palestinian demonstrations, with the majority detained for showing support for Palestine Action, a group recently outlawed as a terrorist organization in the United Kingdom.
The Metropolitan Police Service confirmed on Sunday that 532 people were taken into custody on Saturday, as protesters intentionally defied the ban to test the government’s enforcement of anti-terror laws. Of those arrested, 522 face allegations of supporting a proscribed organization, while the remaining 10 were held on charges including assaulting and obstructing police officers.
The protests came as a separate march calling for the immediate release of Israeli hostages in Gaza moved through central London on Sunday afternoon.
Supporters of Palestine Action argue the government is unlawfully restricting free speech by criminalizing expressions of support for the group, which is known for direct action campaigns targeting sites linked to Israel’s military industry. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper dismissed that claim, stressing that the group was banned due to violent attacks, significant injuries, and extensive property damage.
“The right to protest is fiercely protected, but this is very different from displaying support for this specific proscribed organization,” Cooper said in a statement. “Many may not yet know the reality of this group, but the assessments are clear — this is not a nonviolent organization.”
Images published in Sunday newspapers showed elderly protesters being detained, including 89-year-old retired psychotherapist La Pethick, who told the Times of London she had her family’s full backing. “We are having our right to peaceful protest taken away,” she said. Police data showed nearly half of those arrested were over the age of 60.
Prosecutors will take weeks to decide whether charges will be filed, as counterterrorism officers compile case files for review, with some cases requiring approval from the attorney general.
Parliament voted to outlaw Palestine Action following incidents including activists breaking into a Royal Air Force base and damaging two tanker planes in protest of British support for the war in Gaza. The group had also targeted Israeli defense contractors in the UK. Its supporters are now challenging the ban in court, claiming it violates human rights laws.
AP
