More than 50 arrested at central London protest in support of Palestine Action

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More than 50 people have been arrested in central London where protesters gathered to show support for Palestine Action after the group was labelled a terror organisation.

Organisers Defend Our Juries said up to 700 people were in Parliament Square for the demo.

The Metropolitan Police had warned beforehand it would arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action.

The crowd, sat on the grass inside the square, held placards reading ‘I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action’, with the vast majority remaining silent.

Other clusters of protesters who were not holding placards gathered around the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in the square singing pro-Palestinian chants.

Officers were holding individual demonstrators sat on the edge of the grass before escorting them through swelling crowds to police vans parked on the edge of the square.

Police officers detain a demonstrator during a rally organised by Defend Our Juries, challenging the British government's proscription of "Palestine Action" under anti-terrorism laws, in Parliament Square, in London, Britain, August 9, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police officers detain a demonstrator during a rally organised by Defend Our Juries (Picture: Reuters)

A separate group of officers attended a protester lying next to the fenced-off Emmeline Pankhurst statue.

They later began arresting protesters sat in the middle of Parliament Square.

The officers lifted the protesters – some sitting and some lying flat – off the ground before escorting them away.

Onlookers applauded the protesters and shouted ‘Shame on you’ at the police making arrests.

Protesters who were still sat in the middle of Parliament Square stood up together at 2pm and held their placards in the air.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 9: Police officers remove a protestor during the pro Palestine "Lift The Ban" protest at Parliament Square on August 9, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. Demonstrators are rallying for a 'Lift the Ban' protest in support of the pro-Palestinian campaign group, Palestine Action, which was proscribed as a terrorist organization by the UK government last month, after four of the group's members broke into RAF Brize Norton and spray-painted two Voyager aircraft in June Protest organizers Defend Our Juries have called on demonstrators to carry signs that read, "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action," in defiance of the ban, which prohibits membership or support for Palestine Action as a crime that could carry a jail sentence of up to 14 years. The High Court has recently ruled that the group's proscription should be reviewed, with Palestine Action lawyers arguing that it breaches the right to free speech and legitimate protest. (Photo by Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images)
Police officers remove a protestor during the pro Palestine ‘Lift The Ban’ protest at Parliament Square (Picture: Getty)

One person was also arrested at a separate Palestine Coalition march, which set off from Russell Square heading to Whitehall via Aldwych and the Strand.

The arrest was ‘for a placard showing support for Palestine Action’, Scotland Yard said.

Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Earlier this week, the first three people to be charged with supporting Palestine Action in England and Wales were named.

Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, have all been charged with displaying an article in a public place, arousing reasonable suspicion that they are a supporter of a proscribed organisation after their attendance at a previous demonstration last month.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 9: Police officers remove a protestor during the pro Palestine "Lift The Ban" protest at Parliament Square on August 9, 2025 in London, United Kingdom. Demonstrators are rallying for a 'Lift the Ban' protest in support of the pro-Palestinian campaign group, Palestine Action, which was proscribed as a terrorist organization by the UK government last month, after four of the group's members broke into RAF Brize Norton and spray-painted two Voyager aircraft in June Protest organizers Defend Our Juries have called on demonstrators to carry signs that read, "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action," in defiance of the ban, which prohibits membership or support for Palestine Action as a crime that could carry a jail sentence of up to 14 years. The High Court has recently ruled that the group's proscription should be reviewed, with Palestine Action lawyers arguing that it breaches the right to free speech and legitimate protest. (Photo by Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images)
Demonstrators are rallying for a ‘Lift the Ban’ protest in support of the pro-Palestinian campaign group, Palestine Action, which was proscribed (Picture: Getty)

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Hundreds have been arrested in the wave of Defend Our Juries protests across the UK since the ban was implemented by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month.

A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘The Home Secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights.

‘It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues.

‘Freedom to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and we protect it fiercely.

‘The decision to proscribe was based on strong security advice and the unanimous recommendation by the expert cross-government proscription review group.

‘This followed serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage.’

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