Palestine Action protest could ruin my law career plan, says student
Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said officers and the Crown Prosecution Service had worked quickly "to overcome misguided attempts to overwhelm the justice system", and were processing the case files of those arrested.He added: "We are able to investigate and quickly charge significant numbers of people each week if people want the potentially life-changing consequences of a terrorist conviction."
The proscription made membership of or support for Palestine Action a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison and happened after the group claimed responsibility for an estimated £7m of damage to jets at RAF Brize Norton.Earlier this year, the group won permission to challenge the ban and their case will be heard in the High Court in November.During the Westminster sit-in, members of the group held placards reading "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action".Mr Friend said: "That wording was chosen very carefully, to unashamedly break Yvette Cooper's proscription order, because in my view it is completely illegitimate, and it's quite frankly a ludicrous bit of law."He added: "This isn't about breaking all laws that we find ludicrous, this is one example of a particularly egregious, anti-democratic law."There is a long tradition of people breaking unjust laws and I see myself, and I see those people who I was arrested with, as part of that tradition."
On Friday, the Liberal Democrats called for a review of the terrorism law used to arrest PAG's supporters, and warned it risked having a "chilling effect" on free speech.Cooper said that Palestine Action was "not a non-violent organisation" when defending the organisation's proscription, adding that it was more than "a regular protest group known for occasional stunts".The home secretary said PAG had been "involved in violent attacks" and "major criminal damage against national security infrastructure".She told the BBC: "There may be people who are objecting to proscription who don't know the full nature of this organisation, because of court restrictions on reporting while serious prosecutions are under way."The Met Police said PAG was also linked to allegations of a serious assault on staff and police officers at a business premises in South Gloucestershire.
'Red line for democracy'
Following the sit-in, the Met Police said the average age of those arrested was 54 and some 112 of them were more than 70 years old."The police had set up this quite bizarre system, sort of fake police desks on the street, to process the hundreds of people that got arrested that day," said Mr Friend, who was street bailed after his arrest.Asked by BBC London if he was trying to get arrested, Mr Friend said: "I wasn't trying to get arrested, but let me explain the reasons why I did this."For the last two years, we've been watching a genocide unfold in Gaza."BBC London put to Mr Friend that an interim report from the International Court of Justice had not proven a genocide in Gaza and that Israel had strongly rejected the accusations of genocide.Mr Friend said: "I feel fully confident from what I see every day, broadcast through my phone, from what we see in the news, from what international experts say, a genocide is happening."This is a red line for democracy and freedom of speech in this country - I felt I had to do this."Reflecting on the impact of the arrest on his future career, he said: "There are various hoops one needs to jump through to become a solicitor or a barrister. I imagine a terrorism conviction would make that very difficult."
Solicitor Ali Parker said the number of people who had been arrested under the Terrorism Act for supporting Palestine Action was "absolutely unprecedented"."Normally when an organisation is proscribed, you can understand that even if there were vocal advocates publicly supporting it, they quickly go to ground - they're all too aware of the consequences of being arrested. "However, in this instance, you have hundreds of people turning up in public spaces loudly and proudly expressing their support. That's unprecedented."The police don't normally walk into Westminster Square and find 500 people holding up placards and signs almost waiting to be arrested. So these are uncharted waters."
The Metropolitan Police Federation said the demand for policing protests in London was "relentless" and "not sustainable"."Our colleagues have and continue to lose time with their families, friends and loved ones because they have been pulled into London to police protests," a spokesperson said."We must remember there are no "extra" police officers. Officers are emotionally and physically exhausted. The demand is relentless. And it's not sustainable."
City Hall said it would not comment on the protests and it was an operational policing matter.
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The Independent
6 minutes ago
- The Independent
Solving the asylum question is suddenly even more urgent
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Mr Farage's interventions in the riots last year only added to the campaign of disinformation underway, and most recently was made to apologise for claiming that the Essex police had 'bussed in' counter-demonstrators in Epping. The Conservatives, mesmerised by the rise of Reform UK, are in a constant losing battle to out-Farage Farage, and they should know better than to propagate myths about asylum seekers living in 'offensively luxurious' conditions, which was today's unhelpful sideswipe from former Tory MP Damian Green. The shadow home secretary Chris Philp and the shadow communities secretary James Cleverly should bear their share of the blame for the mess the asylum system is in, and offer some constructive alternatives and call for calm. They will not recover as a serious alternative party of government until they too come up with a plan for the asylum system. The leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, often talks of such a thing, but it is yet to be seen. 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The Independent
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Daily Mail
6 minutes ago
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Father who desperately tried to save his wife when she was crushed by a falling tree branch as they walked through park pays tribute - as police urge witnesses to come forward
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He said: 'My wife, a mother of two, a daughter, sister and a friend we lost to a tragic event that came on the way home from a family day out in the park. 'She was the most beautiful woman in the world, she did everything for our two children, she did everything she could for anyone and would bring smiles whenever she entered the room. 'She was my comfort, my partner in life and the love of my life. We have so many great memories, went through pain together and started a family together. 'Honestly, I feel completely lost without her and I do not know how to put into words how much I miss her face, her character and her presence. My one and only.' Mr Khan was playing football just yards ahead with the couple's nine-year-old son when the branch fell. Speaking of the moment he battled to save his wife as she lay injured, he said: 'I rushed to her. I tried to save her, she was still breathing.' He also revealed his wife's haunting last post on Snapchat - a picture of a tree which she had taken while they were leaving the park. Describing how the tragedy unfolded, Mr Khan said: 'I was playing football with my son and kicked the ball in the wrong direction and we were going after it. 'I heard a crack and the tree just came down. There was no wind, nothing. The tree was standing straight, not even leaning, and then it just came down. 'She was hit by a branch but it had the full weight of the tree behind it and that is why the council had to cut it all down. Speaking of the moment he battled to save his wife as she lay injured, Mr Khan said: 'I rushed to her. I tried to save her, she was still breathing.' 'I rushed to her. I tried to save her - she was still breathing.' Mr Khan called emergency services, who rushed to the scene but were unable to save his wife. He went on: 'I cannot praise the paramedics enough. They were there in six minutes and the doctors came from the local hospital but nothing could be done. 'I have spoken to someone at the coroners office and they tell me she had chest fractures and her lungs had collapsed. He added: 'She was the most beautiful and loyal person you would ever wish to meet. She was loved by many but especially by her children. We are left here without her.' And he added: 'The last picture she took was of a tree. She took it as we were leaving the park. 'She told me it was time to go home. She said she wanted to shower and feed the children. 'She has left us. Now there is just me and my children.' Two days after the fatal incident, Blackburn council completely cut down what remained of the tree from which the branch fell, as well as lopping off branches from several other nearby trees. A joint investigation is underway between Lancashire Police and the Health and Safety Executive, and detectives are asking anyone with information to come forward. Detective Inspector Iain Czapowski said: 'This is an absolutely tragic incident which has cost a young woman her life and my thoughts are with her loved ones. 'We are working closely with our colleagues from the Health and Safety Executive and with the co-operation of the council to try and establish the full circumstances of what happened, and I would like to speak to anyone with information which could assist with that. 'I am especially keen to speak to anyone who actually saw what happened on that fateful night and I would urge them to contact us.' The accident happened just yards from the park's Big Cover wood, where trees form the majority of the habitat. Relatives from all over the country gathered at Blackburn's Madina mosque two days after Madia's death where the family were hoping a funeral could take place sometime in the evening. Former mayor and still sitting councillor Zamir Khan MBE, an uncle in the tight-knit family, said Madia's body was still with the coroner. He said: 'Her little girl told me her mother pushed her out of the way as the branch fell. 'Madia was a loving, doting mother and a very caring person. 'The older boy was walking with his father in front and could not believe what happened. 'It is very hard for the children. I do not think they will ever walk in that park again.' In a statement, the council said it was 'deeply saddened' after the accident and confirmed the tree had been felled. The authority's chief executive, Denise Park said: 'Our thoughts and heartfelt condolence are with the family and friends of the person who has lost their life at this very difficult time.' He added: 'Witton Park is a much-loved community space, and the safety of everyone who visits is of the utmost importance to us. 'Our thoughts remain first and foremost with the family at this very sad time.' A cyclist who rides through the park every day said: 'I have seen loads of fallen branches before, but it is mainly because of high winds. 'There wasn't even a breeze when this poor woman was killed. It is utterly heartbreaking. 'I shudder to think what her poor children and husband are going through.' Many people walking there today were unaware of the tragedy and thought the council were carrying out unnecessary tree work. One said: 'I was initially cross that they had cut the tree down until someone told me what had happened. It doesn't bear thinking about.' Local councillor Paul Marrow said: 'There have been concerns about ash dieback disease and the number of dead trees in Witton Park and across the borough. 'The council needs to make regular, thorough inspections of the trees in the park to ensure they are safe.'
