Palestine Action protesters arrested after defying terror ban
Several dozen activists gathered in front of Parliament to show their backing for the group, despite it being against the law to display support for a proscribed organisation.
The designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist group came into effect at midnight on Friday after a late-night legal attempt to delay it failed.
Hours later, activists held up placards reading: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.'
In a statement on social media before the protest, Scotland Yard had warned that people showing support for the group would face prosecution.
As the protest was under way, the Metropolitan Police said: 'Officers are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square.
'The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence. Arrests are being made.'
Among those who appeared to be taken away was an elderly woman in a dog collar, who had been sitting in a camp chair with one of the placards at her feet,
Another person was seen lying on the floor in handcuffs as police gathered over her.
The protest came after three judges, including the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, refused a last-minute attempt to pause the ban coming into effect.
MPs had overwhelmingly voted in favour of a decision taken on Wednesday by Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, to proscribe the protest group under the Terrorism Act 2000, with the Lords having approved the move.
Within hours of the ban coming into effect, activists organised by the Defend Our Juries group gathered near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square, holding signs saying 'I support Palestine Action'.
Leslie Tate, 76, a Green councillor from Hertfordshire who was at the protest, said: 'Palestine Action are not a violent organisation, and the proscription is wrong.
'You do know, of course, that they were prescribed by Parliament with two other groups involved – all three at once so that was a trick to make sure the Bill went through.
'The evidence from their actions that they've taken from the start of Palestine Action is that they all have been non-violent.
'This protest is necessary to defend our democracy, and this is the creeping edge of totalitarianism, frankly.'
Alex Hearn, the Labour Against Antisemitism director, said: 'Palestine Action aligning themselves with Gandhi is laughable. It cynically misrepresents their activities as non-violent, when in truth attacking police with a sledgehammer and vandalising properties is anything but.'
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