Met Arrests Around 150 At Large Palestine Action Protest London

Hundreds of protesters gathered in central London at Parliament Square to demonstrate in support of the banned group Palestine Action, which the UK government has designated a terrorist organization. The Metropolitan Police, citing the Terrorism Act, warned that expressing support for Palestine Action is a criminal offense and began making arrests shortly after the protests commenced, with around 150 people detained so far. Protesters chanted slogans against the police and the government, with some engaging in violent clashes that included physical and verbal abuse against officers, who responded with baton use and arrests. Organizers of the protest, Defend Our Juries, estimated attendance of about 1,500, expecting many to refuse street bail and go limp to resist removal, thereby requiring officers to carry them away. The Metropolitan Police emphasized having sufficient resources, including contingency custody cells, to handle mass arrests and reiterated their commitment to prosecuting all those violating terrorism-related laws. The protests have been described as highly charged, with participants expressing frustration over what they see as inaction against alleged genocide and the banning of their group, while police maintain a firm stance on enforcement under the law.