Gaza: More than 70 arrests have occurred at protests across the UK following the government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. The arrests were made by police forces in London, Cardiff, and Manchester, with participants detained on suspicion of terrorism offences.
According to Nam News Network, the government officially proscribed Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act of 2000 as of last Saturday. This means that any membership or support for the group is now considered a criminal offence. Demonstrations were marked by protesters lying on top of each other, while police conducted searches of bags and confiscated ID cards and handmade signs. Some protesters were carried away by police, while others were led into police vans, with the last individual being removed from the Nelson Mandela statue shortly after 14:30 BST.
The Metropolitan Police stated that they will take action when criminal offences are committed, including expressions of support for proscribed groups through chanting, wearing specific clothing, or displaying flags, signs, or logos. South Wales Police reported arresting 13 people outside the BBC offices near Cardiff’s Central Square, all on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation. They emphasized their support for lawful protest.
In Manchester, Greater Manchester Police arrested 16 individuals under the Terrorism Act of 2000 during a protest in St Peter's Square. The protests across the UK were organised by a campaign group called Defend Our Juries. A separate protest in London last weekend resulted in 29 arrests.
Palestine Action has been known for targeting arms companies, particularly since the onset of the current conflict in Gaza. The proscription of the group followed a June incident where two Voyager aircraft were vandalized with paint by activists at RAF Brize Norton, an act for which the group claimed responsibility. In connection with this, four individuals have been remanded in custody, charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage and enter a prohibited place knowingly for purposes harmful to the UK's safety or interests. Additionally, one woman was released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, while a man was released without charge. The incident led to a security review of UK military airbases.
In July, MPs voted to amend legislation to officially designate Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper cited the group's extensive history of criminal damage and noted an increase in the frequency and severity of its activities since 2024. She stated that the UK’s defence enterprise is critical to national security and the government will not tolerate actions that jeopardize it.
However, critics argue that the government is misusing legislation and question if Palestine Action should indeed be classified as a terrorist group. A legal challenge to temporarily block the proscription was unsuccessful. Raza Husain KC, representing Palestine Action's co-founder Huda Ammori, argued in court that banning the group would be an authoritarian misuse of power.
The backdrop to these developments includes Israel's military campaign in Gaza, launched in response to the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken.
