Met Police Arrest Protesters for Supporting Palestine Action in London

Arrests have occurred for the second consecutive week at an event in central London where references to Palestine Action were reportedly made. Last week, 29 individuals were arrested by Metropolitan police officers near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Parliament Square. Among them was an 83-year-old former priest, the Rev Sue Parfitt, who appeared to express support for the group.

On Saturday, two small groups of protesters gathered in Parliament Square, sitting at the steps of the statues of Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. The protest was organized by Defend Our Juries, with plans for more demonstrations in London, Manchester, Cardiff, and Derry. The Met released a statement confirming arrests were being made in response to the protest in support of Palestine Action.

Protesters were seen holding signs in support of Palestine Action and were subsequently arrested for alleged 'terrorism offences.' The demonstrators, who wrote messages on cardboard and held up signs, were surrounded by police officers who searched their bags and took their ID cards. The protesters were then led away into police vans parked around the square.

The home secretary announced plans to ban Palestine Action following an incident where activists allegedly defaced military aircraft. The ban has been criticized by UN experts, civil liberties groups, and lawyers for equating protest with terrorism. The group has become the first direct action protest group to be banned under the Terrorism Act.

According to the source: The Guardian.