Over 400 individuals apprehended by UK authorities for backing a pro-Palestine organization deemed unlawful
Breaking News: Mass Arrests at London Protest Against Palestine Action Ban
The Metropolitan Police arrested 466 people in London on Saturday for supporting Palestine Action, a move that has sparked controversy and criticism from various groups. This is believed to be one of the highest numbers ever at a single protest in the UK capital.
The arrests were made under anti-terror laws, following the UK government's ban on Palestine Action as a proscribed terrorist organisation on 5 July. The ban, which has drawn strong criticism from lawyers, civil liberties groups, and international human rights organisations, was justified due to incidents such as a break-in and vandalism at RAF Brize Norton.
Attendees at the protest began massing near parliament bearing signs saying "oppose genocide, support Palestine Action" and other slogans, and waving Palestinian flags. Yvette Cooper, the interior minister, insisted that Palestine Action was outlawed "based on strong security advice" and following an assessment from the Joint Terrorism Assessment Centre that the group prepares for terrorism.
However, critics argue that the ban is an excessive and unlawful suppression of protest and free speech, misapplying anti-terrorism laws to political activism. Lawyers for Palestine Action called the ban "unlawful, dangerous and ill thought out", while Amnesty International argued that the UK's terrorism definition is "overly broad" and risks suppressing freedom of expression.
Amnesty International UK stated that the arrest of peaceful protesters is a violation of the UK's international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and assembly. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk described the UK's use of terrorism laws in this case as a misuse of counter-terrorism legislation, emphasizing that international standards confine terrorism to acts with intent to cause death, serious injury, or hostage-taking for intimidation purposes, not broadly applied property damage.
The arrests came days after Palestine Action took responsibility for a break-in at an air force base in southern England that caused an estimated £7 million ($9.3 million) of damage. Seven people have been charged in Scotland for supporting Palestine Action, a fact not mentioned earlier.
Psychotherapist Craig Bell, 39, was among those holding a placard and said the ban was "absolutely ridiculous". A UK court challenge against the decision to proscribe Palestine Action will be heard in November, indicating ongoing legal contestation of the ban’s validity.
Meanwhile, Britain's interior ministry suspects Palestine Action of other "serious attacks" involving violence, significant injuries, and extensive criminal damage. No officers were seriously injured in the alleged assaults during Saturday's protests. Cooper added that the right to protest is one they protect fiercely but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organisation, as stated earlier.
Liberty, a civil liberties NGO, expressed concern about the precedent the ban sets in suppressing legitimate protest and free speech. The outlawing of Palestine Action has drawn strong criticism from various quarters, with many questioning the UK government's approach to dealing with political activism.
[1] BBC News, Palestine Action: UK government bans group over RAF Brize Norton protests, 5 July 2025. [2] Amnesty International UK, UK: Misuse of counter-terrorism legislation against Palestine Action, 10 July 2025. [3] The Guardian, Palestine Action: UK government bans group over RAF Brize Norton protests, 5 July 2025.
- The controversy over the mass arrests at the London protest against Palestine Action's ban continues, with varying opinions on the application of anti-terror laws to political activism.
- Amnesty International UK, in a statement, called the arrest of peaceful protesters a violation of the UK's international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and assembly.
- Meanwhile, broader concerns regarding the use of counter-terrorism legislation in the case of Palestine Action have been raised, with Liberty expressing concern about the precedent the ban sets in suppressing legitimate protest and free speech.
- The UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, emphasized that the UK's use of terrorism laws in this case is a misuse of counter-terrorism legislation, as international standards confine terrorism to acts with intent to cause death, serious injury, or hostage-taking for intimidation purposes, not broadly applied property damage.
- In addition to the arrests at the protest, seven individuals have been charged in Scotland for supporting Palestine Action, a fact not mentioned earlier, adding to the growing criticism of the UK government's handling of the situation.
