UK police arrest 150 at UK protest

7/9/2025 5:55

British police arrested

around 150 people on Saturday at a demonstration in support of

Palestine Action, in the latest round of detentions of its

supporters since the pro-Palestinian group was banned by the

government as a terrorist organisation.



Britain banned Palestine Action under anti-terrorism

legislation in July after some of its members broke into a Royal

Air Force base and damaged military planes.



The group, which has also targeted defence firms in Britain

with links to Israel, accuses Britain's government of complicity

in what it says are Israeli war crimes in Gaza.



Police have arrested hundreds of Palestine Action supporters

in recent weeks under anti-terrorism legislation, including more

than 500 in just one day last month, many of them over the age

of 60.



On Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators gathered near

parliament in central London to protest against the ban, with

many holding up signs that said: "I oppose genocide. I support

Palestine Action."



London's Metropolitan Police said around 150 people had been

detained for a number of offences including assaulting police

officers and supporting a proscribed organisation.



"Officers ... have been subjected to an exceptional level of

abuse including punches, kicks, spitting and objects being

thrown, in addition to verbal abuse," police said in a post on

X.



Palestine Action's ban, or proscription, puts the group

alongside al-Qaeda and ISIS and makes it a crime to support or

belong to the organisation, punishable by up to 14 years in

prison.



Police had warned ahead of Saturday's demonstration that

anyone showing support for the group would be arrested.



Human rights groups have criticised Britain's decision to

ban the group as disproportionate and say it limits the freedom

of expression of peaceful protesters.



The government has accused Palestine Action of causing

millions of pounds worth of criminal damage and says the ban

does not prevent other pro-Palestinian protests.



More than 100 people have been charged with showing support

for the group in recent weeks.