Police in London have begun arresting participants in a demonstration held at Parliament Square in support of Palestine Action, a group recently banned under the UK’s Terrorism Act.
Authorities took action as soon as protesters displayed placards and slogans backing the group.
Around 42 people were arrested during this latest event, echoing similar incidents over the past two weekends.
Police removed peaceful demonstrators, with one individual detained on suspicion of common assault.
This wave of arrests follows at least 86 detentions nationwide—including 41 in London and others in Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh, and Northern Ireland—since the group was proscribed on July 5 .
Palestine Action was listed as a proscribed terrorist organization following an incident in June, when activists breached RAF Brize Norton and caused an estimated £7 million in damage to two military aircraft.
Since then, supporting or even visually signifying backing for the group, through items like placards, T-shirts, or flags, has been treated as a criminal offence carrying penalties of up to 14 years in prison .
The Metropolitan Police have warned that expressing support for Palestine Action at future events—whether standalone or within larger Palestine solidarity marches—could lead to arrest.
They stressed that while support for the broader Palestinian cause is lawful, overt references to the banned group will likely result in immediate action under terrorism legislation .
Critics, including civil liberties advocates, UN experts, and human rights groups, argue that proscribing a non-violent direct action group blurs the line between legitimate protest and terrorism, risking a chilling effect on free expression .