Palestine Action's future plans are disturbing, Yvette Cooper claims as she urges protesters to stay away
Speaking ahead of a major demonstration to protest the decision to ban the group, the home secretary warned the public that 'this is not a non-violent organisation', adding that more information about the group is likely to be revealed in future court cases.
It comes after Downing Street on Monday warned: 'Those who seek to support this group may yet not know the true nature of this organisation'.
The move to ban Palestine Action came after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20, an incident it subsequently claimed, which police said caused about £7 million worth of damage.
Speaking to Sky News on Tuesday, Ms Cooper said: 'The proscribing process is based on detailed security assessments and security advice to me as home secretary, and I have to take that immensely seriously.
'It's based on violent action and injuries that this group has taken, including on national security targets, but also injuries to people, and also some disturbing information referring to future planning as well.
'So that's the information that I have to take immensely seriously when making those proscribing decisions.'
Speaking ahead of a planned mass protest in support of the group taking place on Saturday, Ms Cooper said: 'I do understand there will be people who do not know, who are wanting to protest, what the nature of this group is.
'Let's be clear: this is not about Palestine or protesting about Palestine. This is about a particular, narrow, specific group that has both a violent record and information and about future planning as well.
'More of that information is likely to be really revealed once court cases come through, and can't be in advance. But I would say to people, this is not a non violent organisation.'
The Metropolitan Police and other forces nationwide have warned anyone found to be expressing support for Palestine Action will be arrested, following the government's decision to ban the organisation last month.
Defend Our Juries said it planned to bring together at least 500 people for its planned demonstration against the ban on Saturday with organisers 'very confident' they have recruited enough participants, a spokesperson for the campaign group said.
But they have denied that its planned mass protest will try to overwhelm the police and justice system.
A High Court ruling on Wednesday decided that Palestine Action's co-founder Huda Ammori had several 'reasonably arguable' beliefs in her challenge over the group's ban that would be heard at a three-day hearing in November, but a bid to pause the ban temporarily was refused.
The ban means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000.
More than 200 people were arrested at a wave of protests across the UK in response to the proscription last month, as part of the campaign co-ordinated by Defend Our Juries.
Many of the protesters were detained after writing and holding up the message 'I oppose genocide I support Palestine Action' on placards or pieces of cardboard.
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The thug who threatened to gang rape a Virgin air stewardess and set her alight is a 'super flash' recruitment tycoon whose business went bust with £17million worth of debts - and has two wives, we can reveal. Father-of-three Salman Iftikhar, 37, was flying in first class when he launched a vile tirade of abuse towards Virgin Atlantic staff on a flight from London Heathrow to Lahore. Wealthy passengers aboard the flight watched in horror as the recruitment boss repeatedly called steward Angie Walsh a 'f***ing b****' at 39,000ft. He later threatened to blow-up the five-star hotel the cabin crew were set to stay in. Iftikhar, a Pakistani national, was jailed for 15 months earlier this week after he left Ms Walsh 'broken' and 'traumatised' having declared she would be dragged out of her hotel room and assaulted. 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He also had a big extension round the back. 'The property used to be open, but he came along and surrounded it with big electric gates and an intercom system. 'He only ever really said hello or anything like that to me when he first moved in. After that he sort of fenced himself off and didn't really mingle with other neighbours much. 'One thing he did like was cars. He owned a Bentley and Range Rover, but he'd also drive different cars on a temporary basis. 'I think he may have been part of a car club or something like that because he'd drive a variety of different vehicles. Usually expensive looking ones. 'He was driving around in a red sports car a few months ago. He'd go out early evening sometimes and come home about 10pm revving the engine and blaring music out of the speakers. 'It was really annoying and inconsiderate especially as people were trying to get to sleep. He thought he looked cool, but he really didn't. 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'I thought he was a bit arrogant as he'd have friends turning up at his place at all hours and when he first moved in and was having building work done he'd parked his cars on his neighbour's driveway opposite without asking. 'The neighbour mentioned it to him and he stopped doing it, but didn't apologise or anything. I thought that was quite rude.' This week he admitted making threats to kill and racially aggravated harassment at Isleworth Crown Court, and was jailed for 15 months. Shocking footage shows Iftikhar repeatedly accusing Ms Walsh of being a racist and says: 'You called me a p*ki in front of everybody'. Iftikhar's wife and children can be heard crying in the background, pleading for him to stop as they were comforted by horrified cabin crew staff. Cabin crew were forced to discuss landing in Turkey due to his disruptive behaviour to which Iftikhar replied, 'I don't care. F*** it, go to Turkey. I have contacts'. He went on to say he knew where Mrs Walsh lived in Cardiff before shouting 'the white sheep sh****** b**** will be dead. The floor of your hotel will be blown up and it will disappear'. The court heard the incident had erupted when Iftikhar was told to stop picking up ice with his hands from the bucket at the bar he was drinking at. 'Mr Iftikhar was seen drinking champagne at the onboard bar, where he was talking to cabin crew,' said prosecutor Abdul Kapadia. 'During the defendant's first meal service, the defendant was seen helping himself to ice, leaning over bar he was drinking at, and taking ice with his hands. 'When told to stop, the defendant became irate, and started to film cabin crew with his phone, telling them: 'Do not tell me what to do you b****.' 'When asked by the cabin crew to return to his seat, he then said: 'Don't tell me what to do you racist f-king bitch. I know where you are from in Cardiff.' The pilot was then contacted, and turned the seat belt lights on. 'The defendant then shouted, and said: 'Look at this b**** having the seat belt sign on when there was no turbulence. What the f*** is this b**** doing?' Iftikhar returned to his seat and called crew member Angie Walsh a 'f****** b****.' Mr Kapadia said: 'The defendant's behaviour became worse. The cabin crew discussed a diversion to Turkey. 'The defendant was informed of this possible diversion, to which he replied: 'I don't care. F*** it, go to Turkey. I have contacts. 'The defendant then sat down, but his aggressive behaviour continued. 'His wife was ashamed. His three children were also on-board, and other crew members were called to assist, but the defendant continued shouting and swearing. 'He was slurring his words, with his voice raised. 'He shouted at the cabin crew: "Do you know who I am?" 'The defendant's wife went to the food bar and tried to talk to cabin crew, but the defendant pushed his wife away, and shouted at her not to talk to crew. 'A crew member stabilised the wife's arm to prevent her from falling when she was pushed. 'The defendant then got up, and threatened to fight the cabin crew. 'He grabbed one flight attendant, called Tommy Merchant, and told him to shut up and go away. 'He told Mr Merchant: "Do you know who I am? F*** off. You should know who I am. Come on you heard me. Let's go right now." 'Staff tried to calm the defendant down. The defendant was asked if there was anything the cabin crew could do. 'But Mr Iftikhar leant forward and grabbed Ms Walsh's hand, squeezing it. 'Iftikhar called Ms Walsh a 'f****** white Welsh c***.' Mr Kapadia added: 'The defendant also threatened to blow up the floor of the Avari Lahore Hotel, where the cabin crew were due to stay. 'The defendant knew the specific hotel, but also the hotel room numbers, and threatened the cabin crew with this. 'He told Ms Walsh: 'You will be dead on the floor of your hotel'. 'Iftikhar shouted at Ms Walsh and said: 'The white sheep sh****** b**** will be dead. The floor of your hotel will be blown up and it will disappear. 'He told Ms Walsh: "You will be dragged by your hair from your room and gang raped and set on fire". 'The defendant said this while his three young children were crying and pleading for him to stop.' The details of the hotel turned out to be correct, and Ms Walsh had to stay there overnight, and could not sleep, Mr Kapadia said. Mr Kapadia said when the plane landed in Pakistan no action was taken against Iftikhar. Ms Walsh sat in court accompanied by her sister, Claire Walsh, who is also a Virgin Atlantic flight attendant, in their uniforms. She told how she had to take 14 months off work in a victim impact statement read to the court. She said: 'I feel like what happened that day has changed my life enormously. 'I can't quite believe that one passenger has had this much of an impact on my job, my career and my life. 'I am a strong, brave, happy stewardess, and loved my job. I am well known within the company. 'I have been flying with Virgin Atlantic for 37 years. I was working when all flights were grounded on 9/11, and I've even flown into a warzone. But this incident has broken me. 'But I don't feel strong enough anymore. I was abused for eight hours and 15 mins. It has broken me. It was a very personal attack. 'I was doing everything in my power to protect passengers and the crew from him. I felt exposed and vulnerable, especially as we were 39,000 feet in the air. There was nowhere for me to go. 'There was one moment where I felt I could not cope. I went into the cockpit and had a meltdown. I said to the captain I don't know what to do. 'Even the threat of diverting the plane to Turkey or Baku, Azerbaijan, had no effect. 'I was traumatised by the threat of being gang raped. 'Never in my entire career flying for 37 years have I not been sure what to do. 'I have had the best career in the world for 37 years. But he has taken that away from me.' Iftikhar, of Iver, Buckinghamshire, admitted making threats to kill and racially aggravated harassment, in relation to Ms Walsh. He was cleared of assault by beating and threats to kill in relation to Mr Merchant. Ben Walker-Nolan, defending, said Iftikhar was suffering from 'amnesia blood loss', which contributed to what happened. Mr Walker-Nolan added: 'Although there were over 100 incidents over the course of eight hours, the most serious, including threats to kill, were limited. 'The defendant has buried his head in the sand for a long period, and expressed regret. 'He has a long standing drug and alcohol problem which he has not addressed for many years. 'He is a successful businessman who employs a lot of people.' Iftikhar has six previous convictions arising from 15 offences, including common assault in 2004 and drink driving in 2008. He was fined £3,000 in 2021 after he was caught drink driving, as well as being under the influence of cannabis in his Rolls Royce in 2021. Family members wept in the public gallery as the judge Ms Recorder Annabel Darlow KC said: 'Your threats to kill were made in the presence of children, specifically your three young children. 'These were threats made with significant violence. 'Your children had to be comforted by cabin crew staff while you made those threats. 'Ms Walsh has given up a job which she has loved for 14 months, but thankfully has now returned to work. 'This was a sustained incident which involved repeated racist abuse to Ms Walsh. 'You have a lengthy and appalling record of misconduct. You have not addressed the underlying cause of this for many years, that is your drug and alcohol problem. 'Given your lifestyle and your ability to earn money, your harm and risk has not moved. 'This was an appalling incident which has caused long lasting and devastating consequences.' Iftikhar, who appeared in the dock wearing a grey suit with a pink shirt, and a yellow tie wept as he was jailed for 15 months. According to his LinkedIn profile he is the director and founder of recruitment firm Staffing Match. A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson commented: 'The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority, and we take a zero-tolerance approach to any disruptive or abusive behaviour on board our aircraft. 'We will always work closely with the relevant authorities and will not hesitate to seek prosecution for those individuals that cause disruption onboard through unacceptable behaviour.' 'We're incredibly grateful to Angie and our cabin crew onboard who dealt with this distressing situation in a calm, courageous and professional manner.
