London Police Arrest Nearly 500 Supporting Banned Palestine Action Amid Rising Tensions

Nearly 500 people were arrested in central London during a protest supporting the banned pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action, despite calls from UK ministers, police, and Jewish organizations to cancel the demonstration following a deadly synagogue attack in Manchester. The Metropolitan Police reported 492 arrests, mostly for supporting the proscribed organization, with protesters holding placards opposing the ban, which civil liberties advocates criticize as an assault on free speech. The Board of Deputies of British Jews held a commemorative event marking the two-year anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, emphasizing security due to recent tensions, and called for investigations into those arrested for stirring racial hatred. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged calm and respect for the Jewish community's grief, condemning any attempts to incite tension or violence. The protest was part of broader international demonstrations, including large pro-Palestinian marches in Italy that, while mostly peaceful, saw some clashes with police. The UK government banned Palestine Action after its members vandalized military aircraft, classifying it as a terrorist organization, which has sparked heated debate over the balance between national security and freedom of protest.