British police arrest scores of supporters of newly banned Palestinian protest group
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British police detaining a protester at a rally for the banned group Palestine Action in Manchester on July 12.
PHOTO: REUTERS
- UK police arrested 41 in London and 16 in Manchester for supporting Palestine Action, recently banned under anti-terrorism laws.
- Palestine Action targeted Israeli-linked businesses, causing damage; opponents criticise using anti-terrorism laws for this type of action.
- The ban, opposed by some, puts Palestine Action in the same category as Hamas with membership carrying a 14-year prison sentence.
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LONDON - British police arrested scores of supporters on July 12 of a pro-Palestinian protest group that was banned this month under anti-terrorism legislation.
Police said they had arrested at least 41 people in London and 16 others in Manchester for showing support for the group Palestine Action.
Campaign group Defend Our Juries said 86 people had been arrested across the UK, with other protests held in Wales and Northern Ireland.
British lawmakers proscribed the group under anti-terrorism legislation
“Officers have made 41 arrests for showing support for a proscribed organisation. One person has been arrested for common assault,” London’s Metropolitan Police said, in a statement on social media about the demonstration.
After a similar protest in London last week, police arrested 29 people.
Before the July 12 arrests in London, close to 50 protesters had gathered with placards saying “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action” near a statue of former South African President Nelson Mandela outside the British Parliament.
The International Court of Justice in the Hague is hearing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza war, which began after Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023. Israel has repeatedly denied committing abuses.
The British government’s decision to classify Palestine Action as a terrorist group places it in the same category as Hamas, Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Membership now carries a prison sentence of up to 14 years.
Protesters are arrested and their placards confiscated in Parliament Square, London, on July 12.
PHOTO: AFP
Opponents of the ban say using anti-terrorism laws is inappropriate against a group accused mainly of damaging property rather than harming people, although some members have in the past been charged with violence in clashes with police.
Palestine Action generally targeted Israeli and Israel-linked businesses in Britain such as defence company Elbit Systems, often spraying red paint, blocking entrances or damaging equipment.
In an unsuccessful court appeal against the ban, a lawyer for Palestine Action said the government ban was the first time Britain had proscribed a group which undertook this type of direct action. REUTERS
