Southend-on-Sea dispersal order issued by Essex Police
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
More than 50 people arrested at protests supporting banned Palestine Action
More than 50 people have been arrested at protests around the country against Palestine Action being designated a proscribed terror group. Protesters gathered for the second week in a row in central London after police reiterated that showing support for the group was a criminal offence, resulting in the Metropolitan Police making 42 arrests. Other demonstrations also took place across the UK on Saturday, including in Manchester – where 16 arrests were made – Cardiff and Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Two groups of protesters gathered underneath both the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in Parliament Square for the demonstration shortly after 1pm. The individuals then wrote the message 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action' with black markers on pieces of cardboard, and silently held the signs aloft as they were surrounded by Metropolitan Police officers and members of the media. Some demonstrators could be seen lying on top of each other on the floor as police searched their bags and took their ID cards and handmade signs. Officers could then be seen carrying away a number of protesters who were lying down, lifting them off the ground and into waiting police vans parked around the square. Other standing protesters were also led away from the statues and placed into the vans. The last of the protesters was lifted from the Nelson Mandela statue shortly after 2.30pm. A Metropolitan Police officer at the scene told the PA news agency that 46 people had been arrested at the protest, but the force later confirmed on X that the figure stood at 42. All but one of the arrests were for showing support for a proscribed organisation, while one person was arrested for common assault, the Met said. Greater Manchester Police said it had arrested 16 people under the Terrorism Act 2000 after responding to a protest in St Peter's Square, Manchester, at around 2.30pm on Saturday. Scotland Yard said its stance remains that officers will act where criminal offences, including support of proscribed groups or organisations, are committed. The force added that this includes 'chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos'. Police arrested 29 people at a similar protest in Parliament Square last weekend. The terror group designation means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The move to ban the organisation came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an incident claimed by Palestine Action, which police said caused about £7 million worth of damage. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action, saying that the vandalism of the planes was 'disgraceful' and the group had a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage'.
Times
an hour ago
- Times
James McMurdock took bank salary while ‘claiming Covid loans'
A former Reform MP who allegedly borrowed tens of thousands of pounds in Covid loans received a salary from an international bank throughout the pandemic. James McMurdock suspended himself from Reform UK last week after The Sunday Times posed questions about £70,000 he borrowed through two firms in 2020: one previously dormant, the other with negligible assets. The South Basildon & East Thurrock MP later said he had quit Nigel Farage's party after taking 'specialist advice' which 'is privileged and which I choose to keep private at this time'. He remains under investigation by the parliamentary commissioner for standards and was separately referred to the Public Sector Fraud Authority by the Covid corruption commissioner last week. Reform has called for him to resign so a by-election can take place.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Arrests made after youth stabbed in Derby nature reserve
Police have made three arrests following a stabbing at a nature reserve in were called to Sunnydale Park at about 16:20 BST following reports of the force said a "youth was found with injuries" and was taken to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life threatening - his condition was described as people have been arrested in connection with the incident and Derbyshire Constabulary has asked for any witnesses to come forward.
