More than 150 arrests at Palestine Action ban protest

Police say they have made more than 150 arrests so far at a demonstration in London in support of proscribed group Palestine Action.

Scores of people simultaneously unveiled handwritten signs with the same message "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action" at the protest, organised by Defend Our Juries at Westminster's Parliament Square.

The government proscribed the Palestine Action group in July under the Terrorism Act of 2000, making membership of or support for the group a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

While the protest was still ongoing, the Metropolitan Police said: "It will take time but we will arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action."

Footage from the square showed officers moving among the protesters, who were mainly seated on the ground, and speaking to them before leading them away.

On X, the Met Police issued a statement saying a "significant number of people are displaying placards expressing support for Palestine Action.

"Officers have moved in and are making arrests."

The protest comes just days after the first three people to be charged with supporting the group in England and Wales were named.

When it announced the protest, Defend Our Juries said: "Together, in numbers, we will stand against UK complicity in Israel's genocide."

As well as the protest by Palestine Action, two marches have been organised by Palestine Coalition and pro-Israeli group Stop the Hate and will be held on consecutive days in central London.

The Metropolitan Police said it had drawn officers in from other forces to help form a "significant policing presence" in the capital as it faces a busy weekend.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan warned that officers would be ready to arrest anyone showing support for Palestine Action and urged people to "consider the seriousness of that outcome."

Most of the protesters who unveiled signs did so while sitting in Parliament Square next to the House of Commons

The signs had been prepared moments before they were simultaneously unveiled

Police approached protesters sitting on the ground and either led or carried them away

More than 200 people have been arrested across the country for similar reasons since the ban was implemented by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month.

On Thursday two women and a man were also charged with showing support for a proscribed terror group. They are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 16 September, the Metropolitan Police said.

At the end of July, the High Court ruled that Palestine Action would be able to challenge its proscription.

Lawyers for the group's co-founder Huda Ammori have argued that the ban breaches the right to free speech and has acted like a gag on legitimate protest. The government says the ban is justified because it narrowly targets a group that has been organising serious criminality.

MPs voted to proscribe the group after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in June, spraying two Voyager aircraft with red paint and causing £7m worth of damage. Palestine Action took responsibility for the incident at the time.

A Home Office spokesperson said the decision to proscribe the group was based on "strong security advice" following "serious attacks the group had committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage".