More than 50 arrested at protest in support of Palestine Action in London
Defend Our Juries, which organised the demonstration, said between 600 and 700 people were in Parliament Square on Saturday afternoon.
The Metropolitan Police said it would arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action.
The crowd, sat on the grass inside Parliament Square, could be seen writing 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action' on white placards at 1pm, with the vast majority remaining silent.
(Image: PA)
(Image: PA)
(Image: PA) Several demonstrators carrying placards that read 'Palestine Action terrorises Britain while Hamas hides in hospitals, schools and mosques', briefly walked along the crowd before being led away by police officers.
Other clusters of protesters who were not holding placards gathered around the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in the square singing pro-Palestinian chants.
Officers were holding individual demonstrators sat on the edge of the grass before escorting them through swelling crowds to police vans parked on the edge of the square.
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A separate group of officers attended a protester lying next to the fenced-off Emmeline Pankhurst statue.
They later began arresting protesters sat in the middle of Parliament Square.
The officers lifted the protesters – some sitting and some lying flat – off the ground before escorting them away.
(Image: PA)
(Image: PA) Onlookers applauded the protesters and shouted 'Shame on you' at the police making arrests.
Protesters who were still sat in the middle of Parliament Square stood up together at 2pm and held their placards in the air.
READ MORE: Anas Sarwar blasted as 'hypocrite' after branding Benjamin Netanyahu 'war criminal'
One person was also arrested at a separate Palestine Coalition march, which set off from Russell Square heading to Whitehall via Aldwych and the Strand.
The arrest was 'for a placard showing support for Palestine Action', Scotland Yard said.
The Met Police said on Twitter/X: "We've now made more than 50 arrests in Parliament Square and our interventions continue. We have significant resources deployed to this operation. It will take time but we will arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action."
Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000.
More arrests are expected to take place on Saturday as the Met Police continue their operation.
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