Latest news with #DefendOurJuries
Al Jazeera
an hour ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Supporters of banned Palestine Action group arrested at London protest
Police have arrested protesters in London for supporting activist group Palestine Action, which was banned at midnight in the United Kingdom. 'Officers have arrested more than 20 people on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act 2000. They have been taken into custody. Palestine Action is a proscribed group and officers will act where criminal offences are committed,' the Metropolitan Police wrote on X on Saturday. Campaign group Defend Our Juries said in a press release that 27 people, including a priest and a number of health professionals, had been arrested for offences under the Terrorism Act. They were holding cardboard signs, saying: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.' Passersby reacted to the arrests as the police intervened in the demonstration at noon. 'Met Police, you are puppets of the Zionist state' and 'leave them alone', they were quoted as shouting by the Press Association, the British news agency. Other supporters, not directly involved in the Palestine Action protest, shouted: 'Who do you protect? Who do you serve?' and 'British police off our streets.' There were further chants of 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' during the incident. The ban Police warned on Friday that expressing support for Palestine Action would be a criminal offence after the ban kicked in at midnight. 'This includes chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos,' said the force. A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: 'We commend the Counter Terrorism police for their decisive action in protecting the people of London from some cardboard signs opposing the genocide in Gaza and expressing support for those taking action to prevent it.' The proscription cleared parliament on Thursday, with a court challenge to try to stop it becoming law failing on Friday. The government announced last week it would ban Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000, days after activists from the group broke into an air force base in southern England. Two aircraft at the base were sprayed with red paint, causing an estimated 7 million pounds ($9.55m) in damage. Four Palestine Action activists were remanded in custody on Thursday after appearing in court over the incident. Palestine Action has condemned the proscription as an attack on free speech. The ban will make it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Sky News
an hour ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Police arrest more than 20 protesters on suspicion of terror offences after Palestine Action banned
Police have arrested more than 20 protesters after a ban on the Palestine Action group came into effect. The protest group was officially proscribed as a terrorist organisation from midnight on Saturday after a last-minute legal challenge at the Court of Appeal to delay it failed. The Metropolitan Police said on Saturday afternoon that the protesters had been held on suspicion of committing offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 following a protest in London's Parliament Square. "The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence," the force added. "Arrests are being made." MPs overwhelmingly voted in favour of Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's decision to ban the protest group under the legislation on Wednesday and Lords have approved the move. The law change adds Palestine Action to the list of banned organisations along with the likes of al Qaeda, ISIS and Hezbollah, and makes membership of, or support for, the direct action group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Even wearing a T-shirt or badge with the group's name on attracts a maximum six-month sentence. On Saturday, a large number of Metropolitan Police officers circled around dozens of protesters carrying placards that said: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action". It came after campaign group Defend Our Juries said demonstrators were set to gather in Parliament Square on Saturday holding signs supporting Palestine Action. Officers who attended the protest were met with cries of "Met Police you are puppets of the Zionist state" and "leave them alone". Others were heard shouting: "British police off our streets" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free". A woman seen lying on the floor in handcuffs was carried away by officers and put in a police van. She said was heard saying: "Free Palestine, stop the genocide, I oppose genocide, I support the rights of the Palestinian people, I support freedom of speech, I support freedom of assembly". A large group of people crowded around to film the scene. Officers placed her in a vehicle before returning to the square's Mahatma Ghandi statue. Chants of "shame" were directed at the police. Most of the officers dispersed at around 2.10pm. Ms Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action after two Voyager aircraft were allegedly damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on 20 June, which police said caused around £7m worth of damage. Even wearing a T-shirt or badge with the group's name on attracts a maximum six-month sentence. On Friday, the High Court heard the decision to ban the group was taken before the aircraft were allegedly damaged and as early as March this year. Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, is seeking to bring a legal challenge against the Home Office with a hearing for permission to bring a judicial review set to take place during the week of 21 July. On Friday, her lawyers applied for "interim relief" to temporarily block the legislation from coming into force until that hearing, arguing the Irish author Sally Rooney, who wrote Normal People, was among supporters who fear the "ramifications". But three judges, including the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, refused refused a bid to pause the ban coming into effect pending any Supreme Court bid at about 10.30pm on Friday, less than two hours before the ban was due to come into force. In their judgment, the judges said: "The role of the court is simply to interpret and apply the law. "The merits of the underlying decision to proscribe a particular group is not a matter for the court... Similarly, it is not a matter for this court to express any views on whether or not the allegations or claims made by Palestine Action are right or wrong." Please refresh the page for the latest version.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Supporters of banned Palestine Action group arrested at London protest
LONDON: Police on Saturday arrested protesters in London for supporting activist group Palestine Action, which was on Friday banned under anti-terror laws. '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,' Metropolitan Police wrote on X. Campaign group Defend Our Juries said in a press release that a group of 27 people, including a priest and a number of health professionals, had been arrested for offences under the Terrorism Act. They were holding cardboard signs, saying: 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action,' added the campaign group. Police warned on Friday that expressing support for Palestine Action would be a criminal offence after the ban kicked in at midnight. 'This includes chanting, wearing clothing or displaying articles such as flags, signs or logos,' said the force. A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: 'We commend the Counter Terrorism police for their decisive action in protecting the people of London from some cardboard signs opposing the genocide in Gaza and expressing support for those taking action to prevent it.' The proscription cleared parliament on Thursday, with a court challenge to try to stop it becoming law failing on Friday. The government announced last week it would ban Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000, days after activists from the group broke into an air force base in southern England. Two aircraft at the base were sprayed with red paint, causing an estimated £7 million ($9.55 million) in damage. Four Palestine Action activists were remanded in custody on Thursday after appearing in court over the incident. Palestine Action has condemned the proscription as an attack on free speech. The ban will make it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Police arrest more than 20 protesters on suspicion of terror offences after Palestine Action banned
Police have arrested more than 20 protesters after a ban on the Palestine Action group came into effect. The protest group was officially proscribed as a terrorist organisation from midnight on Saturday after a last-minute legal challenge to delay it failed. The Metropolitan Police said on Saturday afternoon that the protesters had been held on suspicion of committing offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 following a protest in London's Parliament Square. "The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence," the force added. "Arrests are being made." MPs overwhelmingly voted in favour of Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's decision to ban the protest group under the legislation on Wednesday and Lords have approved the move. The law change adds Palestine Action to the list of banned organisations along with the likes of al Qaeda, ISIS and Hezbollah, and makes membership of, or support for, the direct action group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Even wearing a T-shirt or badge with the group's name on attracts a maximum six-month sentence. On Saturday, a large number of Metropolitan Police officers circled around dozens of protesters carrying placards that said: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action". It came after campaign group Defend Our Juries said demonstrators were set to gather in Parliament Square on Saturday holding signs supporting Palestine Action. Officers who attended the protest were met with cries of "Met Police you are puppets of the Zionist state" and "leave them alone". Others were heard shouting: "British police off our streets" and "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free". A woman seen lying on the floor in handcuffs was carried away by officers and put in a police van. She said was heard saying: "Free Palestine, stop the genocide, I oppose genocide, I support the rights of the Palestinian people, I support freedom of speech, I support freedom of assembly". A large group of people crowded around to film the scene. Officers placed her in a vehicle before returning to the square's Mahatma Ghandi statue. Chants of "shame" were directed at the police. Most of the officers dispersed at around 2.10pm. Ms Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action after two Voyager aircraft were allegedly damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on 20 June, which police said caused around £7m worth of damage. Even wearing a T-shirt or badge with the group's name on attracts a maximum six-month sentence. On Friday, the High Court heard the decision to ban the group was taken before the aircraft were allegedly damaged and as early as March this year. Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, is seeking to bring a legal challenge against the Home Office with a hearing for permission to bring a judicial review set to take place during the week of 21 July. On Friday, her lawyers applied for "interim relief" to temporarily block the legislation from coming into force until that hearing, arguing the Irish author Sally Rooney, who wrote Normal People, was among supporters who fear the "ramifications". But three judges, including the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Carr, refused refused a bid to pause the ban coming into effect pending any Supreme Court bid at about 10.30pm on Friday, less than two hours before the ban was due to come into force. In their judgment, the judges said: "The role of the court is simply to interpret and apply the law. "The merits of the underlying decision to proscribe a particular group is not a matter for the court... Similarly, it is not a matter for this court to express any views on whether or not the allegations or claims made by Palestine Action are right or wrong." This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the latest version. You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Pro-Palestine protesters halt London Pride parade by hurling paint & blocking roads after terror ban
PRO-Palestine protesters have brought the London Pride parade to a standstill by hurling paint and blocking roads. Youth Demand disrupted the event at around 2pm targeting the float of technology firm CISCO - a sponsor of London Pride. 3 3 3 Meanwhile arrests have been made at a protest in London being held in support of Palestine Action after a ban on the group came into force on Saturday, police said. Campaign group Defend Our Juries said it planned to gather in Parliament Square holding signs supporting Palestine Action. The Metropolitan Police posted on X on Saturday afternoon saying officers are responding to the protest in Parliament Square and making arrests. Palestine Action lost a late-night Court of Appeal challenge on Friday which sought to stop the protest group being banned, less than two hours before the new legislation came into force at midnight. The designation as a terror group means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The force posted on X saying: "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. Further updates will be shared here." It comes as the Home Office welcomed the ban on Palestine Action after the group failed to block its proscription with a late-night legal bid. The designation as a terror group means that membership of or support for Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. The group lost a late-night Court of Appeal challenge on Friday evening, which sought to stop it being banned, less than two hours before the move came into force at midnight. A Home Office spokesperson said on Saturday: "We welcome the Court's decision and Palestine Action are now a proscribed group. "The Government will always take the strongest possible action to protect our national security and our priority remains maintaining the safety and security of our citizens." The move to ban the organisation was announced 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 around £7million of damage. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe Palestine Action on June 23, stating that the vandalism of the two planes was "disgraceful" and that the group had a "long history of unacceptable criminal damage". MPs in the Commons voted 385 to 26, majority 359, in favour of proscribing the group on Wednesday, before the House of Lords backed the move without a vote on Thursday. Four people - Amy Gardiner-Gibson, 29, Jony Cink, 24, Daniel Jeronymides-Norie, 36, and Lewis Chiaramello, 22 - have all been charged in connection with the incident at Brize Norton. They appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday after being charged with conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of the United Kingdom, and conspiracy to commit criminal damage, under the Criminal Law Act 1977.
