Arrests have been made at the latest protest for Palestine Action in London, the Metropolitan Police say.
Demonstrators are taking action in Parliament Square in Westminster this afternoon in support of the proscribed terror organisation.
Met Police said some protesters had been physically and verbally abusive in a “coordinated effort to prevent officers carrying out their duties”, adding that a number of the arrests were made for assault.
One man was seen being taken away by police as the crowd in Parliament Square chanted “shame on you” and “you’re supporting genocide”.
Met Police announced the first arrests of the day on X just 12 minutes after the protest’s official start time.
Palestine Action has been banned as a terror group since 5 July after MPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move, making it illegal to express support for the group.
Demonstrators at the Palestine Action protest. Pic: PA
In a further update on X, the Met Police said the pro-Palestinian protesters had marched past counter-protesters, and that officers were in place to keep the two groups separated.
The march reached Whitehall at around 2pm, where speeches are taking place. The police have said the demonstration “must” conclude by 5.30pm.
Met Police warned before the protest began: “Expressing support for a proscribed organisation is a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act.
Pic: PA
Pic: PA
“Where our officers see offences, we will make arrests.”
The protest’s organiser, Defend Our Juries, said it estimated 1,500 gathered for the rally, where many of them to held signs saying: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
More than 530 people were arrested at the last major demonstration against Palestine Action being banned as a terror group. However, Met Police used “street bail” to avoid having to process them all in custody.
Street bail allows officers to release suspects on bail before they are taken to a police station. The suspect receives a bail notice requiring them to return to a station at a future date instead.
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The organisers encouraged protesters not to accept street bail during today’s demonstration, writing in a briefing document before they started: “It will not be practically possible for the police to arrest 1,000 non-compliant people on the same day, and that is the strategic rationale behind non-compliance. It increases pressure on the state.”
In a reference to the advice in the briefing document, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson told Sky News the move would be “misguided”.
The ban on the group came shortly after two Voyager aircraft suffered around £7m worth of damage at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on 20 June.
It faces a legal challenge in November after the High Court granted a full judicial review to Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori.
