According to TRTworld.com, the capital's Metropolitan Police force (Met) stated late on Saturday that it had arrested "more than 425 people... in relation to the protest." Among those detained was a protester who criticized the focus on arrests instead of addressing allegations of genocide. Skirmishes broke out between officers and demonstrators who attempted to prevent arrests, leading to more than 25 people being detained for alleged "assaults on police officers and other public order offences," as reported by the Met.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Claire Smart noted that officers encountered significant abuse, including being punched, kicked, and spat on. She emphasized that their role remains to enforce the law and ensure safe protest conditions. Palestine Action was banned under the UK's Terrorism Act of 2000, a move that has been condemned by critics, including the United Nations and several campaign groups, as legal overreach and a threat to free speech.
More than 800 people had already been arrested before Saturday's demonstration, with 138 charged with supporting or encouraging support for a proscribed organization. If convicted, most face six months in prison, while organizers of the rallies could be sentenced to up to 14 years.
