More than 50 people have been arrested in central London after a “significant number” turned out for a Palestine Action demonstration – despite the group being banned.
Organisers Defend Our Juries said up to 700 people were at the event in Parliament Square, with police preparing for the “largest mass arrest in their history”.
The Metropolitan Police said a “significant number of people” were seen “displaying placards expressing support for Palestine Action, which is a proscribed group”.
“We’ve now made more than 50 arrests in Parliament Square and our interventions continue,” they wrote in a post on X.
They added that it would “take time”, but warned they “will arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action”.
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Image:
Protesters write on placards for the Lift the Ban campaign rally on Saturday. Pic: PA
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What does proscribing a group mean?
Legislation to proscribe Palestine Action came into force on 5 July, making it a criminal offence to show support for the organisation, carrying a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
Defend Our Juries announced the protest would go ahead earlier this week despite the ban, following several other similar demonstrations since the proscription last month.
More than 200 people have now been arrested and three charged as a result of illegal Palestine Action activity.
Jeremy Shippam, 71, of West Sussex, Judit Murray, also 71, of Surrey, and Fiona Maclean, 53, of Hackney, east London, will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on 16 September.
Another march organised by the Palestine Coalition, which is a separate group, set off from Russell Square and is heading towards The Strand.
The Met Police said one person had been arrested there for showing a placard in support of the other group.
Image:
A man is detained by police officers in Parliament Square. Pic: PA
Crowds had assembled in Parliament Square by 1pm, with people seen writing “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” on placards.
Many remained silent while others sang pro-Palestine chants.
A Home Office spokesperson said in a previous statement: “The Home Secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights.
“It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues.”
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