Police arrested 474 people during a protest in London on Saturday opposing the government’s ban on the activist group Palestine Action. The Metropolitan Police described it as the largest number of arrests made by the force in a single day in the past decade.
According to police, 466 arrests were for supporting a proscribed group, five for assaults on officers, two for public order offences, and one for a racially aggravated offence. The demonstration, organised by Defend Our Juries, took place in Parliament Square and saw protesters hold up signs reading, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
The protest followed the government’s July decision to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000, making membership or support a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the move, citing “serious attacks” allegedly committed by the group and ongoing security concerns.
While police reported no serious injuries among officers, Amnesty International called the mass arrests “deeply concerning,” arguing that participants were exercising their right to peaceful protest. Amnesty’s Sacha Deshmukh accused authorities of treating peaceful demonstrators as terrorists and criticised UK terrorism law as overly broad.
Footage showed police moving through seated crowds, speaking to protesters before leading them away. Those whose identities were confirmed were bailed with conditions, including bans on attending further pro-Palestine Action demonstrations. Others were taken into custody for refusing to provide details.
Some protesters voiced fears over the erosion of democratic freedoms. Claudia Penna-Rojas, 27, said she was “more concerned with what is happening to people in Palestine” than the risk of arrest. Veteran campaigner Jacob Ecclestone, 86, warned the government’s approach was “deeply authoritarian.”
Security analysts noted that the Terrorism Act was originally drafted to target armed militant groups like the IRA or al-Qaeda, making its application in this context unprecedented.
The protest came amid heightened tensions, with pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli marches scheduled in central London over the weekend. Since the ban was implemented, more than 200 people have been arrested nationwide for similar offences. Palestine Action is currently preparing a legal challenge to the proscription, arguing it breaches the right to free speech and legitimate protest.
