London witnessed one of its largest waves of mass arrests in recent years after police detained nearly 900 demonstrators protesting against the ban on Palestine Action, a direct-action group recently proscribed as a terrorist organization.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that 857 people were arrested under the Terrorism Act for publicly supporting a proscribed group, while 33 others were held on charges including assaulting officers.
The protest, organized by campaign group Defend Our Juries, drew around 1,500 people outside Parliament. Many sat silently, holding signs reading: &ldquo;I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.&rdquo; Within minutes, officers began making arrests, sparking chants of &ldquo;Shame on you&rdquo; and &ldquo;Justice or genocide.&rdquo;
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Claire Smart said officers had been &ldquo;punched, kicked, spat on and had objects thrown at them,&rdquo; describing the abuse as &ldquo;intolerable.&rdquo; Protest organizers rejected those claims, accusing police of heavy-handedness.
This latest action brings the total number of arrests since the group was outlawed two months ago to almost 1,600, with more than 700 detained earlier and 138 charged under terrorism laws. Among those repeatedly arrested is Mike Higgins, a blind 62-year-old wheelchair user, who said: &ldquo;And I&rsquo;m a terrorist? That&rsquo;s the joke of it. Of course I&rsquo;ll keep coming back. What choice do I have?&rdquo;
The British government proscribed Palestine Action in July after activists stormed a Royal Air Force base and vandalized aircraft with crowbars and red paint to protest alleged UK support for Israel&rsquo;s military campaign in Gaza. Membership or public support for the group now carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
Founded in 2020, Palestine Action has carried out high-profile raids on facilities linked to Israeli weapons maker Elbit Systems UK, claiming responsibility for millions of pounds in damages. Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the ban, insisting: &ldquo;The assessments are very clear, this is not a nonviolent organization.&rdquo;
The ban is currently being challenged in court, with a hearing set for September 25.
International criticism has followed. UN human rights chief Volker T&uuml;rk warned that Britain&rsquo;s approach &ldquo;misuses the gravity and impact of terrorism&rdquo; and risks suppressing fundamental freedoms. Co-founder Huda Ammori called the move &ldquo;catastrophic for civil liberties,&rdquo; warning of a &ldquo;chilling effect&rdquo; on free speech.
The group continues to receive backing from high-profile cultural figures, including novelist Sally Rooney, who pledged to keep supporting direct action against what she called genocide.
Meanwhile, a separate pro-Palestinian march drew an estimated 20,000 participants in London the same day, underscoring the depth of public anger over the Gaza conflict and Britain&rsquo;s response.

Police detain protesters backing banned group Palestine Action under UK terror laws

At Least 900 Arrested in London Protest

Police detain protesters backing banned group Palestine Action under UK terror laws

September 8, 2025 | 24:50 IST