At least 63 arrests at Palestine Action ban protests
Arrests have been reported in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol and Truro, all places where demonstrations in support of the pro-Palestine action group took place on Saturday.
The Met Police said 55 people were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences in Westminster for displaying placards in support of Palestine Action. Eight were arrested in Truro in Cornwall.
The government proscribed the group earlier this month under the Terrorism Act of 2000, making membership of or support for the group a criminal offence, following a break-in at an RAF base.
Across the country, protesters held placards with the words: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."
In London, arrests were made near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, where as many as 20 police vans attended.
Officers moved in swiftly to arrest those holding the placards, many of whom appeared to be over the age of 60.
One woman claimed to be in her 80s and was walking with a stick. Some were led away while others had to be carried.
Devon and Cornwall Police said two men and six women were arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after protesters gathered near Truro Cathedral.
The force said around 30 people were involved in the peaceful demonstration, organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries.
Earlier, the campaign group said that one of those arrested near the cathedral was an 81-year-old former magistrate.
It also said 16 people were arrested in Manchester.
Police forces in the other locations where protests took place have not yet confirmed the number of arrests they made.
Saturday's protests came ahead of a High Court hearing on Monday at which the co-founder of Palestine Action, Huda Ammori, will ask for permission to challenge the decision to ban the group.
Last Saturday, 71 arrests were made across the UK at similar protests against the decision.
Palestine Action has engaged in activities that have predominantly targeted arms companies since the start of the current war in Gaza.
MPs voted to proscribe the group after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in June, spraying two Voyager aircraft with red paint and causing £7m worth of damage. Palestine Action took responsibility for the incident at the time.
Four people have since been remanded in custody, charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the UK.
The incident also prompted a security review across all UK military bases.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Two men killed in crash as Vauxhall Astra hits a wall
A witness appeal has been launched after two men were killed in a crash yesterday. Officers were called to Hill Road, Eccleston, Chester shortly after 1.40am on Sunday, July 20 to reports a black Vauxhall Astra had hit a wall. Emergency service attended the scene, but despite the best efforts of all those involved, the driver, a 25-year-old man from Smallwood, died at the scene. A passenger in the vehicle, a 47-year-old man from Rossett, sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. He has since died as a result of his men's next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers from Cheshire Police. Enquiries into events running up to the incident are ongoing and anyone with any information is urged to get in Steve Griffiths, of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: 'This was an absolutely tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the families of the men involved.'Enquiries in relation to the collision are ongoing and as part of our investigation we're keen to hear for anyone who witnessed the collision. The same goes for anyone with any video footage of which may aid the investigation.'Anyone with information or footage that may be relevant to the investigation is asked to call Cheshire Constabulary on 101, quoting IML 2137070, or give the details via Aftermath Support is the North West Charity for those affected by serious road incidents. For further information, help or support call 0151 777 2562 or e-mail: support@ READ MORE: Rachel Booth: Body found in search for missing woman READ MORE: 'We gonna be at war from today' - drug gang plotted to 'leg' rivals after Instagram taunt For the latest news and breaking news visit Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you by signing up to our daily and breaking newsletter. Sign up to our breaking news newsletter here. Follow us on X @LivECHONews or on Bluesky @ - official Liverpool ECHO accounts - real news in real time. We're also on Facebook/theliverpoolecho - your must-see news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Are you worried about being worse off in retirement than pensioners today? Have your say
Pensioners in 2050 are on track to be £800 worse off per year than those retiring today, the UK's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said. The DWP said on Monday that an analysis showed four in 10, or nearly 15 million people, were under saving for retirement. In fact, 45% of working age adults are saving nothing at all into a pension, the DWP said, highlighting that lower earners, the self-employed and some ethnic minorities were particularly at risk. Indeed, more than three million self-employed workers are not saving into a pension, while just a quarter of low earners in the private sector are doing so. The DWP also said that just a quarter of people from a Pakistani or Bangladeshi background are saving into a pension. In addition, it added that the new analysis revealed a "stark" 48% gender gap in private pensions wealth. It said that a woman currently approaching retirement could typically expect to have private pension income worth over £5,000 less than that of a typical man. The findings came in an announcement on Monday that government was reviving the Pensions Commission to "examine why tomorrow's pensioners are on track to be poorer than today's and make recommendations for change". Read more: How to build passive income The Pensions Commission was a body originally set up in 2002 under the government of then-Labour prime minister Tony Blair. The commission last met in 2006 and its work led to the rollout of auto-enrolment into pension saving, which began in 2012. This policy has meant that 88% of eligible employees are now saving into a pension, up from 55% in 2012. The DWP said that the relaunched Pensions Commission will "explore the complex barriers stopping people from saving enough for retirement", with its final report due out in 2027. UK work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said: "People deserve to know that they will have a decent income in retirement – with all the security, dignity and freedom that brings. But the truth is, that is not the reality facing many people, especially if you're low paid, or self-employed. "The Pensions Commission laid the groundwork, and now, two decades later, we are reviving it to tackle the barriers that stop too many saving in the first place." Jordan Clark, financial planner at Quilter, said: "People need to make sure they plan their finances before it is too late and give themselves enough time to rectify potential missed opportunities and mistakes from the past. Clearly there is a desire from people to glide smoothly into retirement, but without a pension pot set up to do this, it simply won't be possible." "The working-age population needs to be prepared to work later into life, with adequate private pension provision being the only route to avoiding this. There is a real need for bold and innovative solutions to the problems faced, and arguably speed is of the essence." Are you concerned about being worse off in retirement than pensioners today? Vote in the poll below. Yahoo UK's poll of the week lets you vote and indicate your strength of feeling on one of the week's hot topics. After the poll closes, we'll publish and analyse the results each Friday, giving readers the chance to see how polarising a topic has become and if their view chimes with other Yahoo UK readers. Read more: Stocks to watch this week: Tesla, Alphabet, Intel, Lloyds and JD Wetherspoon Average UK house asking price drops by almost £5,000 Jobs data increases odds on Bank of England interest rate cut
Yahoo
22 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Wimbledon expansion set to proceed after campaign group loses legal challenge
Plans to almost triple the size of the Wimbledon tennis site are set to proceed after a campaign group's legal challenge against the decision to approve the proposals was dismissed by a High Court judge. Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) took legal action against the Greater London Authority's (GLA) decision to grant planning permission last year. The proposals, submitted by the All England Club, would see the construction of 38 new tennis courts and an 8,000-seat stadium on the grounds of the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club, which would allow it to host Wimbledon qualifiers on site. Barristers for SWP told the High Court earlier this month that the decision to approve the plans was 'irrational' and should be quashed, as Wimbledon Park – a Grade II*-listed heritage site partly designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown – was covered by restrictions on how it could be used. The GLA and the All England Club defended the challenge, with the court told that the decision was a 'planning judgment properly exercised' and that the restrictions were not 'material'. In a ruling on Monday, Mr Justice Saini dismissed the challenge. He said: 'In short, the defendant's decision on the relevance of deliverability, applying to both the statutory trust and the restrictive covenants, was a planning judgment rationally exercised and having regard to appropriate and relevant factors.' The proposals would see seven maintenance buildings, access points, and an area of parkland with permissive public access constructed, in addition to the courts and associated infrastructure. They would also include work on Wimbledon Lake, which would involve building a boardwalk around and across it. After Merton Council approved the plans, but Wandsworth Council rejected them, the Mayor of London's office took charge of the application, but Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan recused himself from the process after previously expressing public support for the development. Planning permission for the scheme was granted by Jules Pipe, London's deputy mayor for planning, who said that the proposals 'would facilitate very significant benefits' which 'clearly outweigh the harm'. Debbie Jevans, chair of the All England Club, said at the time that the proposals would deliver 27 acres of 'newly accessible parkland for the community', and would allow the qualifying tournament for Wimbledon – currently staged at Roehampton – to be held on site. In written submissions, Sasha White KC said that the All England Club acquired the freehold for the golf course in 1993 and the leasehold in 2021. The barrister told the two-day hearing in London that the land was subject to a 'statutory trust requiring it to be kept available for public recreation use' and that when the freehold was acquired, the club entered into 'restrictive covenants' governing its use. He said this meant any plans could not 'restrict its use so as not to impair the appreciation of the general public of the extent or openness of the golf course land'. He continued that separate High Court proceedings were ongoing over whether a statutory trust existed, and that if it does, the All England Club has 'accepted' that this is 'incompatible with the development of the proposal'. In court, he said: 'You could not have a more protected piece of land within the planning system, frankly.' Mark Westmoreland Smith KC, for the GLA, said in written submissions that Mr Pipe received 'detailed advice' over the 'relevance' of the 'alleged' trust and covenants, and made his decision on the assumption that they existed. The barrister said that the decision was a 'planning judgment properly exercised and having regard to the appropriate and relevant factors'. He said: 'Officers advised that the alleged obstacle that they may present to delivery of the development was not itself a material consideration which should weigh against the grant of planning permission.' In his written arguments, Russell Harris KC, for the All England Club, said that planning officers 'acknowledged and had regard to' the trust and covenants, but deemed they were not 'material'.
