London police arrest hundreds at protest against ban on Palestine Action
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A protester being carried away by police in Trafalgar Square, central London, on Oct 4.
REUTERS
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- London police arrested protesters supporting banned Palestine Action after the Manchester attack, despite requests to call off the demonstration.
- Protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square and on Westminster Bridge, displaying support for Palestine Action, leading to arrests and public outcry.
- The protest highlights rising tensions and safety fears within British Jewish and Muslim communities amid recent anti-Semitic and Islamophobic incidents.
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LONDON – London police arrested hundreds of protesters for supporting a banned pro-Palestinian group at a demonstration on Oct 4 which went ahead despite requests to call it off after a deadly attack at a synagogue in Manchester.
Two people were killed in the attack
Organisers refused requests by the police and government to call off the Oct 4 demonstration, which had been announced before the attack, to protest against the banning of pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws.
Calling for calm on X on the morning of Oct 4, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “I urge anyone thinking about protesting this weekend to recognise and respect the grief of British Jews.”
“This is a moment of mourning. It is not a time to stoke tension and cause further pain. It is a time to stand together,” he said.
Police arrested protesters in Trafalgar Square in central London as they wrote slogans on placards declaring support for Palestine Action, which was proscribed in July after members broke into an airbase and damaged military planes.
As at 1730 GMT (1.30am on Oct 5, Singapore time), police said 442 people had been arrested – about half the number arrested at a similar protest in September.
Crowds of more than 1,000 applauded and cheered those arrested as they were carried through the crowd by police without resisting. Onlookers chanted “shame on you” at officers.
“I’m disgusted by the police actually, they shouldn’t be arresting non-violent protesters here,” said protester Angie Zelter.
“We have a right to protest and Palestine Action is not a violent organisation, should never have been proscribed in the first place.”
Six people were arrested separately after unfurling a Palestine Action banner on Westminster Bridge outside Parliament.
Series of protests
The demonstration is the latest in a series of protests, during which hundreds have been arrested for defying the ban which makes it an offence to show support for Palestine Action.
Police said the Oct 4 protests would draw resources away from security they have tightened around synagogues and mosques following the Oct 2 attack.
Activist group Defend Our Juries, which organised the Oct 4 protest, has condemned the attack on the Jewish community in Manchester and urged police to focus on that, not policing the demonstration.
The Oct 2 attack followed incidents of anti-Semitic and Islamophobic hate in Britain this summer, and pro-Palestinian marchers have taken to the streets to denounce Israel, drawing criticism from some members of the Jewish community.
Jewish and Muslim communities in Britain have expressed fears for their safety.
Israel has waged war on Hamas in Gaza since the Palestinian militant group attacked Israel two years ago. urged Israel to stop its bombardment a plan to halt the war.
