UK police arrest dozens of Palestine Action backers
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Nationwide protests against the recent ban on Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000 continue, amid arrests in London and Cornwall.
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Demonstrators shout and gesture toward a police line during a protest by Palestine Action group in London, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
UK police arrested more than 100 people in London and southwest England on Saturday as they participated in protests in support of Palestine Action, marking the third consecutive weekend of demonstrations against the government's decision to ban the activist group under anti-terror laws.
Demonstrations were held in London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Bristol, and Truro on Saturday as part of a campaign coordinated by Defend Our Juries.
In London’s Parliament Square, beside the Mahatma Gandhi statue, police officers surrounded people at an event at which signs were held that read: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action."
According to the Metropolitan Police, approximately 55 people were detained at a protest in London's Parliament Square under the Terrorism Act 2000 for carrying signs in support of Palestine Action, while an additional eight arrests were made in Truro, Cornwall. The force also noted that an additional nine individuals were arrested for supporting Palestine Action during a separate large-scale protest organized by the Palestine Coalition, which marched toward Whitehall.
Greater Manchester police reported the arrest of 16 individuals, who were still in custody for questioning, while Avon and Somerset police stated that 17 people had been detained during a protest in Bristol.
At Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, eight people were arrested after protesters gathered to show support for Palestine Action, while Devon and Cornwall police stated in a report that around 30 protesters had taken part in a "peaceful" Defend Our Juries demonstration.
The protests were coordinated by the campaign group Defend Our Juries, which stated that the demonstrations aimed to openly challenge the government's prohibition.
UK bans Palestine Action instead of taking action against 'Israel'
Following the implementation of the Palestine Action ban on July 5, police have issued warnings that showing support for the group is now considered a criminal offense, after a final attempt to block its proscription through a High Court challenge was unsuccessful, allowing the ban to take legal effect.
On July 12, London Police arrested 41 protesters during demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine Action, while before that, 29 people were arrested on July 6, one day after the ban on Palestine Action was placed.
The British government revealed its intention to impose the ban under the 2000 Terrorism Act shortly after activists from Palestine Action took responsibility for a security breach at a southern England air force base, where two aircraft were vandalized with red paint, resulting in approximately £7 million ($9.55 million) worth of reported damage.
Four activists from the direct-action group Palestine Action have been charged under terrorism laws in connection with a demonstration at RAF Brize Norton, the UK's largest airbase, which took place on June 20. The vandalized jets were used for refueling missions tied to the United Kingdom in the Middle East.
