Over 20 Arrested in London Protests Supporting Banned Palestine Action Group

More than 20 people were arrested in London during protests supporting Palestine Action, a group recently banned and proscribed as a terrorist organization under the UK's Terrorism Act 2000. The arrests occurred in Parliament Square shortly after the ban came into effect, criminalizing membership or public support for Palestine Action, with penalties including up to 14 years in prison. The government moved to ban the group following actions that caused significant damage to military aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, which the group claimed responsibility for, prompting Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to label their activities as unacceptable criminal damage. Protesters held placards opposing genocide and expressing support for Palestine Action, leading to confrontations with police, who warned against expressing support for the banned group at future protests. Critics, including some civil liberties groups and protesters, argue that the proscription infringes on freedom of expression and that the group is not violent, describing the ban as an erosion of democratic rights. The ban places Palestine Action alongside other proscribed groups such as Hamas, al-Qaeda, and ISIS, intensifying the government's crackdown on activities it deems linked to terrorism.