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Kuwait Times
10-08-2025
- Politics
- Kuwait Times
London police arrest hundreds for backing pro-Palestine group
LONDON: Police in London arrested 466 people Saturday for supporting Palestine Action at the latest and largest protest backing the group since the government banned it last month under anti-terror laws. The Metropolitan Police said it had made the arrests, thought to be one of the highest number ever at a single protest in the UK capital, for 'supporting a proscribed organization'. It also arrested eight people for other offences including five for alleged assaults on officers, though none were seriously injured, it added. The government outlawed Palestine Action in early July, days after it took responsibility for a break-in at an air force base in southern England that caused an estimated £7 million ($9.3 million) of damage to two aircraft. The group said its activists were responding to Britain's indirect military support for Zionist entity amid the war in Gaza. Britain's interior ministry reiterated ahead of Saturday's protests that Palestine Action was also suspected of other 'serious attacks' that involved 'violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage'. But critics, including the United Nations and groups such as Amnesty International and Greenpeace, have condemned the move as legal overreach and a threat to free speech. A group called Defend Our Juries, which organized Saturday's protests and previous demonstrations against the ban, said 'unprecedented numbers' had risked 'arrest and possible imprisonment' to 'defend this country's ancient liberties'. 'We will keep going. Our numbers are already growing for the next wave of action in September,' it added. Attendees began massing near parliament at lunchtime bearing signs saying 'oppose genocide, support Palestine Action' and other slogans, and waving Palestinian flags. Psychotherapist Craig Bell, 39, was among those holding a placard. For him, the ban was 'absolutely ridiculous'. 'When you compare Palestine Action with an actual terrorist group who are killing civilians and taking lives, it's just a joke that they're being prescribed a terrorist group,' he told AFP. As police moved in on the demonstrators, who nearly all appeared to offer no resistance, attendees applauded those being arrested and shouted 'shame on you' at officers. 'Let them arrest us all,' said Richard Bull, 42, a wheelchair-user in attendance. 'This government has gone too far. I have nothing to feel ashamed of.' However, interior minister Yvette Cooper insisted late Saturday Palestine Action had been outlawed 'based on strong security advice' and following 'an assessment from the Joint Terrorism Assessment Centre that the group prepares for terrorism'. 'Many people may not yet know the reality of this organization,' she said, adding it 'is not non-violent'. 'The right to protest is one we protect fiercely but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organization.' Police forces across the UK have made scores of similar arrests since the government outlawed Palestine Action on July 5, making being a member or supporting the group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Police announced this week that the first three people had been charged in the English and Welsh criminal justice system with supporting Palestine Action following their arrests at a July 5 demo. - AFP
Al-Ahram Weekly
10-08-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UK arrests over 365 Palestine Action supporters protesting ban and Gaza genocide - War on Gaza
London police arrested more than 365 Palestine Action supporters during a protest in Parliament Square against a government ban on the group and Israel's genocide in Gaza. The Metropolitan Police said the arrests came during the largest protest in the UK capital since last month's ban on the pro-Palestinian group, while organisers said only a 'fraction' of attendees were detained. 'That claim simply isn't true,' the Met said, adding that some present were onlookers or not visibly supporting Palestine Action. 'We are confident that anyone who came to Parliament Square today to hold a placard expressing support for Palestine Action was either arrested or is in the process of being arrested.' 'We have now made 200 arrests in Parliament Square this afternoon,' the force wrote in a post on X. Protesters carried signs reading 'oppose genocide, support Palestine Action' and other slogans, applauding those being detained and shouting 'shame on you' at officers. 'Let them arrest us all,' said Richard Bull, 42, a wheelchair user. 'This government has gone too far. I have nothing to feel ashamed of.' Palestine Action has organised hundreds of protests against Israel's war on Gaza, described as a genocide by experts and international organisations, and has carried out direct action targeting weapons companies supplying Israel. The protest was organised by Defend Our Juries, which opposes the government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror laws. The group described the event as part of its 'lift the ban' campaign and accused police of interfering in its organising efforts, including the closure of its website by a hosting company earlier this week. The Met and other UK forces have made scores of similar arrests since the government outlawed Palestine Action on 5 July. Under UK anti-terror laws, anyone expressing support for a proscribed group risks arrest. Police this week announced the first charges under the legislation, with three people accused of supporting Palestine Action following arrests at the 5 July demonstration. The government banned the group days after several of its activists broke into an air force base in southern England, causing an estimated £7 million ($9.3 million) of damage to two aircraft. UN rights chief Volker Türk has condemned Britain's ban as a 'disturbing' misuse of counter-terrorism legislation and urged the government to rescind the decision. 'The decision appears disproportionate and unnecessary,' Türk said in a statement, warning it 'also conflates protected expression and other conduct with acts of terrorism' and could have a 'further chilling effect' on expressions of free speech. Other critics, including Amnesty International and Greenpeace, have also opposed the ban on similar grounds. In a letter to the Met commissioner, Mark Rowley, Amnesty International UK's chief executive, Sacha Deshmukh, urged officers to 'exercise restraint' when policing people with placards expressing support for Palestine Action. The organisation says such arrests breach international human rights law. A legal challenge to the government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action is due to be heard later this year. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
The Sun
10-08-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
UK police arrest 466 at pro-Palestine protest in London
LONDON: Police arrested 466 people in London on Saturday for supporting the banned group Palestine Action during a major protest. The Metropolitan Police described the arrests as one of the highest numbers recorded at a single demonstration in the UK capital. Eight others were detained for offences including alleged assaults on officers, though no serious injuries were reported. The government banned Palestine Action in early July after the group claimed responsibility for a break-in at an air force base causing £7 million in damage. Protesters gathered near parliament with signs reading 'oppose genocide, support Palestine Action' and waved Palestinian flags. A group called Defend Our Juries, which organised the protest, called the turnout 'unprecedented' and vowed further action in September. Psychotherapist Craig Bell, 39, criticised the ban as 'absolutely ridiculous,' arguing the group was wrongly labelled a terrorist organisation. Police faced chants of 'shame on you' as they detained demonstrators, most of whom offered no resistance. Richard Bull, 42, a wheelchair user at the protest, declared, 'This government has gone too far. I have nothing to feel ashamed of.' Interior Minister Yvette Cooper defended the ban, citing security advice and terrorism assessments against Palestine Action. Amnesty International UK condemned the arrests, calling them a violation of freedom of expression and assembly. A court challenge against the proscription of Palestine Action is set for November. - AFP
The Sun
10-08-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
London arrests 200 at pro-Palestine protest amid ban controversy
LONDON: Police arrested at least 200 people during a protest supporting the banned group Palestine Action in Parliament Square. The Metropolitan Police stated they anticipated further arrests as organisers claimed only a fraction of attendees were detained. Authorities dismissed claims of selective arrests, confirming anyone visibly supporting Palestine Action was either arrested or in the process. The UK government banned Palestine Action after activists damaged military aircraft worth £7 million at an air force base. The interior ministry accused the group of involvement in violent attacks causing injuries and extensive property damage. Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International and the UN, criticised the ban as suppressing free speech. Protest organisers Defend our Juries called the turnout 'unprecedented' and vowed to continue demonstrations in September. Demonstrators carried signs condemning genocide and waved Palestinian flags near parliament. Psychotherapist Craig Bell, 39, labelled the ban 'absolutely ridiculous' and dismissed comparisons to actual terrorist groups. Police faced chants of 'shame on you' as they arrested protesters, who cheered those being detained. Wheelchair-user Richard Bull, 42, declared he had 'nothing to feel ashamed of' and accused the government of overreach. UK anti-terror laws now criminalise membership or support of Palestine Action, with penalties up to 14 years in prison. Three individuals in England and Wales have already been charged under the new law, while seven face charges in Scotland. Amnesty International urged police to avoid arresting peaceful protesters holding pro-Palestine Action signs. The NGO argued such arrests violate international human rights protections. A legal challenge against the ban will be heard in a UK court later this year. - AFP
Al-Ahram Weekly
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UPDATED: UK arrests over 365 Palestine Action supporters protesting ban and Gaza genocide - War on Gaza
London police arrested more than 365 Palestine Action supporters during a protest in Parliament Square against a government ban on the group and Israel's genocide in Gaza. The Metropolitan Police said the arrests came during the largest protest in the UK capital since last month's ban on the pro-Palestinian group, while organisers said only a 'fraction' of attendees were detained. 'That claim simply isn't true,' the Met said, adding that some present were onlookers or not visibly supporting Palestine Action. 'We are confident that anyone who came to Parliament Square today to hold a placard expressing support for Palestine Action was either arrested or is in the process of being arrested.' 'We have now made 200 arrests in Parliament Square this afternoon,' the force wrote in a post on X. Protesters carried signs reading 'oppose genocide, support Palestine Action' and other slogans, applauding those being detained and shouting 'shame on you' at officers. 'Let them arrest us all,' said Richard Bull, 42, a wheelchair user. 'This government has gone too far. I have nothing to feel ashamed of.' Palestine Action has organised hundreds of protests against Israel's war on Gaza, described as a genocide by experts and international organisations, and has carried out direct action targeting weapons companies supplying Israel. The protest was organised by Defend Our Juries, which opposes the government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror laws. The group described the event as part of its 'lift the ban' campaign and accused police of interfering in its organising efforts, including the closure of its website by a hosting company earlier this week. The Met and other UK forces have made scores of similar arrests since the government outlawed Palestine Action on 5 July. Under UK anti-terror laws, anyone expressing support for a proscribed group risks arrest. Police this week announced the first charges under the legislation, with three people accused of supporting Palestine Action following arrests at the 5 July demonstration. The government banned the group days after several of its activists broke into an air force base in southern England, causing an estimated £7 million ($9.3 million) of damage to two aircraft. UN rights chief Volker Türk has condemned Britain's ban as a 'disturbing' misuse of counter-terrorism legislation and urged the government to rescind the decision. 'The decision appears disproportionate and unnecessary,' Türk said in a statement, warning it 'also conflates protected expression and other conduct with acts of terrorism' and could have a 'further chilling effect' on expressions of free speech. Other critics, including Amnesty International and Greenpeace, have also opposed the ban on similar grounds. In a letter to the Met commissioner, Mark Rowley, Amnesty International UK's chief executive, Sacha Deshmukh, urged officers to 'exercise restraint' when policing people with placards expressing support for Palestine Action. The organisation says such arrests breach international human rights law. A legal challenge to the government's decision to proscribe Palestine Action is due to be heard later this year. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
