Metropolitan Police Make Over 300 Arrests at London Protest Backing Banned Palestine Action Group
Law enforcement officers in London detained more than 300 individuals during a demonstration held in support of Palestine Action outside the United States embassy. The gathering took place on Saturday at Nine Elms, drawing a crowd of hundreds carrying placards with messages including statements opposing genocide and endorsing the proscribed organization.
The Metropolitan Police reported on Sunday that a total of 325 people were taken into custody. Among them, 320 individuals were arrested specifically for displaying support for a banned entity under the Terrorism Act. The enforcement action continued into the evening hours as police moved demonstrators into vans, prompting chanting from the crowd—including calls to free Palestine—while some protesters had to be physically carried away after declining to walk.
This weekend’s detentions push the cumulative number of arrests linked to the group past the 4,000 mark. Palestine Action was officially outlawed as a terrorist organization in July 2025. The UK Supreme Court is scheduled to examine the terrorism designation following a successful appeal request by the organization’s co-founder. The Home Office has indicated its intention to vigorously contest the challenge.
Participants traveled from various regions to join the demonstration. Charles Allison, a 75-year-old retired lawyer who journeyed from Cumbria, expressed concern that civil liberties are losing their value and diminishing. He voiced hope that the Supreme Court will evaluate the situation from a long-term perspective and determine the ban is unlawful. Another attendee, David Bolden, characterized the legislation as absurd while waiting to be detained.
Organizing bodies and advocacy organizations strongly condemned the police actions. Defend Our Juries, which has coordinated multiple demonstrations against the ban, labeled the detentions as unjust, an infringement upon freedom of expression, and “truly dystopian.” Amnesty International UK also condemned the arrests and urged the administration to rescind the proscription against Palestine Action.
Statistics provided by Defend Our Juries, drawing on Home Office data and prior demonstrations such as an event outside Westminster Magistrates Court earlier in the year, put the overall arrest count at 4,089 since the organization was banned.
Sources: BBC News
Aggregated summary. Original: BBC News