Nearly 900 people were arrested during a large demonstration
in London supporting the banned Palestine Action group, with many arrests made
under the Terrorism Act. The protest saw significant police efforts to control
the crowd amid claims of violence and mass defiance by protesters.
What Happened at the Palestine Action Protest in London?
On Saturday, a major protest took place in London’s
Parliament Square in support of Palestine Action, a group which was banned
under UK anti-terrorism laws in July 2025. British police arrested a total of
890 people at the event, the highest number recorded from a single protest in
the city to date, as reported by Reuters journalist and The Independent's
coverage by journalist.
The protest was marked by a mass defiance against the government ban on Palestine Action. Demonstrators publicly expressed their support by displaying signs that read
"I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,"
which led to many arrests under Section 13 of the
Terrorism Act.
Who Were Arrested and Why?
Of the 890 people arrested, 857 were detained for offences
related to supporting the proscribed organisation Palestine Action. An
additional 33 people were arrested for other offences, including 17 for alleged
assaults on police officers during violent pockets of the demonstration.
Those detained came from diverse backgrounds, including
elderly people, disabled individuals, clergy, military veterans, and healthcare
workers, according to the protest organisers Defend Our Juries (DOJ) as
highlighted by The Times of India’s report. Many of those arrested were
reportedly older than 60 years of age.
Why Was Palestine Action Banned?
Palestine Action was banned under the UK’s Terrorism Act in
July 2025 after several incidents involving its members damaging military
assets. The group had infiltrated a Royal Air Force base and caused damage to
military aircraft, as reported by Reuters. They target British defence
companies linked to Israel and accuse the British government, led by Prime
Minister Keir Starmer, of complicity in what they describe as Israeli war
crimes in Gaza.
Under the new laws, supporting or being a member of
Palestine Action carries a potential prison sentence of up to 14 years, putting
the group in the same legal category as al Qaeda and ISIS.
How Did Police Respond to the Protest?
The Metropolitan Police led a large-scale operation
involving over 2,500 officers, including reinforcements from forces across
Britain. According to Deputy Assistant Commissioner Claire Smart, a key figure
in the policing effort, the violence encountered during the protest was
coordinated and involved masked individuals intent on causing havoc.
Smart said,
“The violence we encountered during the operation was coordinated and carried out by a group of people, many wearing masks to conceal their identity, intent on creating as much disorder as possible. Many of those individuals have now been arrested, and we have begun securing charges”.
Police noted that the arrests started intensifying from 1 pm
Saturday onwards and by nightfall, hundreds had been taken into custody. Those
who refused to provide identification or were already on bail were taken to
police stations, while others were processed at a prisoner reception point near
Westminster.
What Were the Protesters' and Organisers' Responses?
The protest was organised by Defend Our Juries (DOJ), a
campaign group opposing the ban on Palestine Action. DOJ characterised the
rally as peaceful, disputing police claims of widespread violence. They
condemned the arrests as mass acts of political repression and vowed to
continue defying the ban until it is lifted.
Mike Higgins, a 62-year-old blind protester who uses a wheelchair and was among those arrested, told The Independent,
“What choice do I have? Nothing is being done about the genocide other than by us. And I’m a terrorist? That’s the joke of it”.
How Did Human Rights Organisations React?
Amnesty International criticised the scale of the arrests and the police’s use of the Terrorism Act, describing it as an excessive crackdown on free speech. Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty's Director of Campaigns and Communications, said,
“The staggering number of arrests at yesterday’s peaceful protest marks a new low for protest rights in this country,”and called the police’s claims of violence a misrepresentation.
Amnesty observed episodes of police aggression, including
the use of batons and force against demonstrators who were mostly engaged in
peaceful protest.
What Did Government Officials Say?
Defence Minister John Healey defended the government’s decision to ban Palestine Action and condemned accusations of unequal policing. Speaking to Sky News, Healey said:
“Almost everyone shares the agony when we see the images from Gaza ... and for people who want to voice their concern and protest, I applaud them. But that does not require them to link it to support for Palestine Action, a proscribed group”.
The government has appealed for people to stop demonstrating
in support of the banned group.
What Is the Legal and Social Context of These Protests?
Under UK law, backing a proscribed organisation is a serious
offence. The designation of Palestine Action followed their direct actions
against military and defence facilities linked to Israeli interests. The
government’s position reflects concerns over national security and public
order.
However, the banning of Palestine Action and mass arrests
have triggered a robust debate over the right to peaceful protest versus
national security. Human rights groups argue the ban suppresses legitimate
criticism and free speech regarding the conflict in Gaza.
How Does This Protest Compare to Other Pro-Palestine Demonstrations?
The Metropolitan Police highlighted that the protest was
markedly different from other recent demonstrations, such as the Palestine
Coalition march, which was attended by around 20,000 people and policed without
major incident.
Saturday’s event was part of a series of ongoing protests
since the conflict in Gaza escalated. Many such protests have seen hundreds of
arrests nationwide, indicating sustained activism and resistance against the
proscription.