More than 70 people arrested at protests supporting banned Palestine Action
A further 16 arrests were made in Manchester and 13 people were also held in Cardiff at other related demonstrations on Saturday.
In London, two groups of protesters gathered underneath both the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in Parliament Square for the demonstration shortly after 1pm.
The individuals then wrote the message 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action' with black markers on pieces of cardboard, and silently held the signs aloft as they were surrounded by Metropolitan 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 handmade signs.
Officers have made 41 arrests for showing support for a proscribed organisation.
One person has been arrested for common assault.
The area was cleared within the last hour.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 12, 2025
Officers could then be seen carrying away a number of protesters who were lying down, lifting them off the ground and into waiting police vans parked around the square.
Other standing protesters were also led away from the statues and placed into the vans.
The last of the protesters was lifted from the Nelson Mandela statue shortly after 2.30pm.
All but one of the 42 arrests were for showing support for a proscribed organisation, while one person was arrested for common assault, the Met said in a post shared on X.
🚨 BREAKING MANCHESTER – 16 ARRESTS
16 people have reportedly been arrested for terrorism offences in Manchester today at the foot of the Emmeline Pankhurst statue in St. Peter's Square.
Their 'crime'? Holding a sign that reads 'I OPPOSE GENOCIDE – I SUPPORT PALESTINE ACTION' pic.twitter.com/pIBXk9wQ34
— Defend our Juries (@DefendourJuries) July 12, 2025
Greater Manchester Police said it had arrested 16 people under the Terrorism Act after responding to a protest in St Peter's Square, Manchester, at around 2.30pm on Saturday.
South Wales Police also confirmed 13 people were arrested on suspicion of committing offences under the same Act during a protest in the vicinity of Central Square, Cardiff.
Scotland Yard said its stance remains that officers will act where criminal offences, including support of proscribed groups or organisations, are committed.
The force added that this includes 'chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos'.
Protesters were arrested and taken away from Parliament Square in nearby police vans (James Manning/PA)
Police arrested 29 people at a similar protest in Parliament Square last weekend. They were detained for around 12 hours before being released on bail without charge, Defend Our Juries said.
The terror group designation means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The move to ban the organisation came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an incident claimed by Palestine Action, which police said caused about £7 million worth of damage.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action three days later, saying that the vandalism of the planes was 'disgraceful' and the group had a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage'.
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