More than 70 arrests at protests over Palestine Action ban
Protesters gathered for the second week in a row in central London, where the Metropolitan Police made 42 arrests.
Other demonstrations took place around the UK, including in Manchester, where police said 16 arrests were made, and in Cardiff, where South Wales Police arrested 12 people.
In London, two groups of protesters gathered underneath statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela in Parliament Square, shortly before 1pm.
They wrote the message "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action" on pieces of cardboard and silently held the signs in the air as they were surrounded by police officers and members of the media.
Some demonstrators could be seen lying on top of each other on the floor as police searched their bags, and took their ID cards and signs.
Officers then carried away a number of protesters, lifting them off the ground and into waiting police vans.
The last protester was lifted from the Nelson Mandela statue shortly after 2.30pm.
Forty-one of the 42 arrests at the London protest were for showing support for a proscribed organisation, while one person was arrested for common assault, the Met Police said.
Palestine Action's terror group designation means membership of, or support for, the group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Greater Manchester Police said it had arrested 16 people under the Terrorism Act 2000 after responding to a protest in St Peter's Square at around 2.30pm.
South Wales Police confirmed 13 people were arrested on suspicion of offences under the same act in the vicinity of Central Square in Cardiff.
The Met Police arrested 29 people at a similar protest last weekend.
Scotland Yard has said its stance remains that officers will act where criminal offences, including support of proscribed groups or organisations, are committed.
It added that this includes "chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos".
The move to ban Palestine Action came after at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire last month.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
35 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Train ‘smashes into van on crossing' sparking huge delays as fireball seen
A high-speed train bound for London has reportedly smashed into a van in Kent, causing the vehicle to erupt in flames. The collision happened at a level crossing off Lower Road in Teynham this afternoon, with emergency services and an air ambulance currently at the scene. National Rail said in a post on X: "A train hitting an obstruction on the line at Teynham is causing disruption to trains running between Newington and Faversham. Trains running between these stations may be delayed by up to 30 minutes or revised. Disruption is expected until 15:00." TEYNHAM update: A London-bound train travelling at high speed reportedly hit a van on a level crossing off Lower Road this afternoon. The van reportedly caught fire following the collision. Air ambulance is at scene.
BBC News
35 minutes ago
- BBC News
Hampshire officer's death sparks police misconduct review
The death of a police officer who was under investigation for gross misconduct has sparked a review of how a force deals with the Claire Browne, who had worked for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary since 2006, died at a property in Netley on 7 July. Her death was not thought to be suspicious, the force has 44-year-old was on bail after being arrested over allegations she sent sensitive police information from her work email account to her personal Jones, Hampshire and Isle of Wight's police and crime commissioner, said the independent review would take place after "questions and concerns among officers, staff and the wider public". Ms Browne was being investigated by the force over an allegation that she had used her police email account for non-work force has referred itself to the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police comes after Hampshire police officer PC Alex Hazlett-Beard, who was also under investigation by the force, died in Jones said the review would be led by a "qualified individual from outside policing with relevant experience in assessing organisational practices and wellbeing."She added: "This review will not interfere with any ongoing investigations or statutory processes but will help the force and me as commissioner to better understand whether the current systems are appropriate, proportionate and supportive."Ms Jones said while she was "committed to ensuring high standards of integrity within the force", it was critical officers and staff were "treated fairly and compassionately during difficult times". Acting Chief Constable Sam de Reya said: "Everyone is extremely shocked and saddened by Claire's death and our thoughts remain with her family, friends and colleagues."Claire was a well loved and respected officer and colleague who had worked in many different departments and teams throughout her policing career. She will be missed by us all."Her family said she was a "dedicated officer who served the force and the community diligently and compassionately for 19 years."They added: "Claire will be sorely missed by her many friends and colleagues. Our family is devastated and we ask for understanding, kindness and privacy during this incredibly difficult time." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Sun
41 minutes ago
- The Sun
Transport Secretary admits she doesn't have ‘expensive' EV – despite trying to convince drivers to make switch
TRANSPORT Secretary Heidi Alexander admits she doesn't have an "expensive" electric car - despite trying to convince drivers to make the switch. The Cabinet Minister highlighted the difficulties of living in a terraced home and not having a driveway to plug in the motor for charging. 1 Her comments come as £700 million could be on the table offering subsidies to lower the upfront costs of purchasing electric vehicles. She told the BBC "I don't have an electric car. But I'm like millions of people in this country, I bought a new car about six years ago. "I'm thinking about the next car I will purchase, and it will definitely be an electric vehicle. I'm not in the habit of changing my car on a yearly basis, expensive as it is." Electric car sales amounted to 47,000 in June but this is still below the mandated level which states 28 per cent of new car sales and 16 per cent of van sales should be zero emission. She also committed to giving £25 million to councils so they could adapt paths between a house and the road for cables to be laid. Ms Alexander said: "We do need to make it easier and cheaper for people to buy an electric vehicle. "So today we're announcing a really big investment, £63 million in charging infrastructure across the country, £25 million for councils so that people like me, who don't have a driveway. "I live in a terrace house, if I had an EV, I'd be asking myself questions about how I would get the electric cable across to the car." Electric car sales amounted to 47,000 in June but this is still below the mandated level which states 28 per cent of new car sales and 16 per cent of van sales should be zero emission. The transition to electric vehicles comes as new petrol or diesel motors should come to an end by 2030. Just five years later, all new motors will have to be electric as part of the drive to meet Net Zero targets by 2050.
