UK Police Arrest 466 in Largest London Protest Against Palestine Action Ban

British police arrested 466 people during a large protest in central London supporting Palestine Action, a group recently banned under the Terrorism Act 2000 due to its involvement in serious attacks and criminal damage. The protest, involving over 500 participants, many displaying placards endorsing Palestine Action, was met with a heavy police response, resulting in the most arrests related to a single operation in at least a decade. Amnesty International condemned the mass arrests as a disproportionate crackdown on peaceful protest and expressed deep concern over the broad application of UK terrorism laws, which they argue threaten freedom of expression. Protest organizers argued the arrests were an embarrassment that undermined the government's credibility, while police maintained that anyone openly supporting the proscribed group was subject to arrest. The large-scale detentions have strained police and prison resources, prompting discussions among prison officials about capacity. The demonstrations and arrests highlight ongoing tensions over UK government policy on Palestine Action and broader pro-Palestinian activism.