a day ago
Watch: Palestine Action imitates Bob Vylan's ‘death to the IDF' chant
Supporters of Palestine Action shouted 'death, death to the IDF' outside a court on Monday as they emulated Bob Vylan's controversial Glastonbury chant.
The protesters mounted the demonstration outside Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London, where members of Palestine Action charged with carrying out an armed attack on an Israeli defence firm, in which a police officer was allegedly beaten with a sledgehammer, were appearing.
Scotland Yard said it was investigating the protest, just hours after Avon and Somerset Police announced that it was launching a criminal investigation into the performances of Bob Vylan, a rap duo, and Kneecap at Glastonbury under public order laws.
Meanwhile it emerged that the former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg, the outreach director for Cage International, a prisoners' rights group, had also led pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Leicester with chants of 'death, death to the IDF'.
Mr Begg was filmed speaking to the protest, where he welcomed 'beautiful' crowd chants of 'death to Zionism'. He said: 'The other chant that we make today is that Israel is a terror state. That's not just a statement of a protest, it's actually true.
'You know yesterday in Glastonbury, what was said? Shall I say the words? Shall I say the words? Death, death to the IDF. Death, death to the IDF. Death, death to the IDF.'
The Palestine Action protest in Woolwich was mounted on the same day that Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, laid orders in Parliament to proscribe the group as a terrorist organisation on a par with Hamas, Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. This means anyone found to be a member or supporter will face up to 14 years in prison.
Protesters outside the court also chanted 'we are all Palestine Action' and held signs reading 'hands off Gaza'.
A Met Police spokesman said: 'Following footage filmed at the protest outside Woolwich Crown Court on Monday afternoon, we are now investigating to identify any offences and to determine what further action is required.'
Mr Justice Johnson is hearing a two-day legal argument ahead of three separate trials for the 18 defendants linked to Palestine Action, the first of which is due to begin on Nov 17.
On Aug 6 last year, activists allegedly used an old prison van to bulldoze their way into Elbit Systems UK near Bristol, armed with flares, fireworks and whips. It is claimed that police sergeant Kate Evans was beaten with a sledgehammer by Sam Corner, 22.
The proscription of Palestine Action is expected to take effect on Friday after debates in Parliament on Wednesday and Thursday.
The group is seeking a legal challenge against the Government's bid to proscribe it under anti-terror laws. An urgent hearing was held in the High Court on Monday, related to an application for judicial review on behalf of Huda Ammori, one of the founders of the group.
A further hearing will be held on Friday to decide whether the Government can temporarily be blocked from banning the group, pending a hearing to decide whether Palestine Action can bring the legal challenge, expected to be held in the week of July 21.
