
Hundreds arrested at London protest against Palestine Action ban
They reported that, as of 6pm (5pm GMT), 365 people had been arrested for supporting a proscribed organisation.
The group in question is Palestine Action, which Parliament banned last month over an alleged protest that damaged two UK military aircraft.
Thousands of demonstrators had gathered in Parliament Square to oppose the ban, express solidarity with Palestine, and defend free speech rights.

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The National
22 minutes ago
- The National
Half of arrested Palestine Action supporters over 60 as defiance against UK government widens
About half the protesters arrested under the UK's terrorism law over expressing support for Palestine Action at a weekend sit-in rally in London are over 60, police have revealed. The group has been designated a terrorist organisation but its supporters staged a protest in Westminster to openly defy the law and run the risk of arrest. London's Metropolitan Police says 532 people were arrested after displaying placards, and also released their ages. Of those detained, 147 are 60-69 and 97 are 70-79, with 15 falling into the 80-89 category. Supporters of the banned group will 'feel the full force of the law', a justice minister said, while a former counter-terrorism officer suggested many supporters will be unaware of its actions or plans. The increasing spread of ages suggests Palestine Action has gained traction with people beyond the typical protest movement. The decision to ban the group under anti-terrorism legislation was taken by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper after some of its members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged planes in protest against Britain's support for Israel. Among those arrested was Jonathon Porritt, 75, an environmentalist who is a former adviser to prime minister Tony Blair and King Charles III. In a post on X, he wrote: 'Very privileged to be amongst those arrested yesterday in Parliament Square – supporting Defend Our Juries' campaign to have the ban on Palestine Action lifted. An astonishing moment. Opposing genocide is NOT terrorism. Yvette Cooper made to look an authoritarian idiot.' The Met said 30 people arrested at the protest on Saturday had also been apprehended at recent rallies in support of Palestine Action in London. Counter-terrorism officers will work to put together the case files required to secure charges against those arrested. The Met said securing a charge for an offence under the Terrorism Act is a distinct process, which in some instances not only involves approval of the Crown Prosecution Service, but also the Attorney General. Neil Basu, former deputy commissioner of the Met and its head of counter-terrorism, said the decision to proscribe Palestine Action would have been based on intelligence over its intentions that cannot be revealed. 'Proscribing a group is a very high bar, so there will be intelligence to suggest this is a violent group that is planning more violent protest,' he told the BBC. 'But it will be the case that governments that can't always tell us the public absolutely everything that goes towards the intelligence case.' People who will continue to go out and support Palestine Action just need to understand that they are committing a very serious criminal offence and they don't yet know the full facts.' Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones said anyone supporting a "terrorist organisation will feel the full force of the law" and places in prison will be made available for anyone convicted. 'With regards to Palestine Action, they are a proscribed terrorist organisation and their actions have not been peaceful," she said. "They have violently carried out criminal damage to RAF aircraft. "We have credible reports of them targeting Jewish-owned businesses here in the UK, and there are other reasons, which we can't disclose because of national security. But they are a proscribed terrorist organisation and anyone showing support for that terrorist organisation will feel the full force of the law." Palestine Action has been allowed to legally challenge the decision to designate it a terrorist group.


Sharjah 24
2 hours ago
- Sharjah 24
Eight dead in shooting in Ecuador
Law enforcement arrived on the scene following an emergency call alerting them to a shooting, and found "several people wounded and seven bodies," police colonel Javier Chango told a press conference, adding an eighth person died in hospital. The gunmen arrived in two pickup trucks and opened fire on people at 1:15 am local time (0615 GMT) in Santa Lucia, which has a population of 38,000 in the Guayas Province. Among the dead was Jorge Urquizo, who was the brother of Santa Lucia's mayor. Police found 800 cartridge cases at the scene. After the attack the gunmen got back in their trucks and fled along an "unknown route," Chango said. The local police picked up a man driving a truck who was carrying a revolver, but were not able to determine whether he was involved in the attack. The police said they have yet to work out a motive for the shooting. The bodies of the dead were taken to a morgue in the neighboring city of Daule. The office of Santa Lucia's mayor Ubaldo Urquizo expressed condolences on Sunday. "We unite in sorrow and prayer for this violent attack that has struck our community," the office said on social media. Ecuador, once a peaceful haven between the world's two top cocaine exporters Colombia and Peru, has seen violence erupt in recent years as gangs with ties to Mexican and Colombian cartels vie for control. More than 70 percent of all cocaine produced in the world now passes through Ecuador's ports, according to government data. Guayas is one of four provinces where President Daniel Noboa recently declared a two-month state of emergency to combat gang violence. However despite a stepped-up military presence authorities have not stemmed the bloodshed. More than 4,051 homicides were recorded between January and May, according to official figures. Analysts believe it is the most violent start to a year in the country's recent history.


The National
7 hours ago
- The National
Iraq dismisses PMF commanders, and on board a Jordanian aid drop to Gaza
Iraq has dismissed two senior commanders of the paramilitary Popular Mobilisation Forces over a deadly attack on a government building last month. The National has boarded a Jordanian aid flight to Gaza. Hundreds were arrested in London for marching in support of the banned Palestine Action group. On this morning's episode of Trending Middle East: Iraq dismisses two senior PMF commanders over attack on government building Hundreds arrested in London for supporting Palestine Action This episode features Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Jordan correspondent. Editor's note: We want to hear from you! Help us improve our podcasts by taking our 2-minute listener survey. Click here.