More than 70 people arrested at UK protests over Palestine Action ban

Miami Herald

2 days ago

LONDON - More than 70 people have been arrested at protests in England and Wales against campaign organization Palestine Action being designated a proscribed terror group.
Protesters gathered for the second week in a row in central London after police reiterated that showing support for the group was a criminal offense, resulting in the Metropolitan Police making 42 arrests.
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 1 p.m.
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 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 2.30 p.m. (1330 GMT).
All but one of the 42 arrests were for showing support for a proscribed organization, while one person was arrested for common assault, the Met said in a post shared on X.
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 2.30 p.m. on Saturday.
South Wales Police also confirmed 13 people were arrested on suspicion of committing offenses 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 offenses, including support of proscribed groups or organizations, are committed.
The force added that this includes "chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos."
Police arrested 29 people at a similar protest in Parliament Square last weekend.
The terrorist group designation means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offense punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The move to ban the organization came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at a Royal Air Force base on June 20, an incident claimed by Palestine Action, which police said caused about 7 million pounds ($9.4 million) worth of damage.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action, saying that the vandalism of the planes was "disgraceful" and the group had a "long history of unacceptable criminal damage."
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