LONDON; London police detained at least 150 demonstrators on Saturday after violent clashes erupted at a rally demanding the lifting of the UK government’s ban on the Palestine Action group.
The protest, organised by campaign group Defend Our Juries, drew around 1,500 participants to Parliament Square, where they risked arrest under terrorism laws. The group accused police of using excessive force, posting footage on X that showed protesters being thrown to the ground and arrested for holding placards reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
The Press Association reported that officers used batons during the clashes, with one protester seen bleeding heavily from his face while being detained. Witnesses described tense scenes in which police argued with demonstrators, while water bottles and other objects were thrown. Several protesters were also injured after being caught in a crush.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests, citing offences ranging from assaulting officers to supporting a proscribed organisation. In a statement, the force said officers had faced “an exceptional level of abuse,” including being kicked, punched, spat at, and targeted with thrown objects.
Saturday’s unrest followed the UK government’s July decision to outlaw Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000. The move came after the group staged a break-in at an air force base in southern England, allegedly causing £7 million ($9.4m) worth of damage to military aircraft. Under the law, supporting or joining the group now carries penalties of up to 14 years in prison.
The ban has sparked widespread criticism. Prominent figures such as author Sally Rooney and musician Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack have voiced support for Palestine Action, while the group itself has been granted permission by the High Court to challenge the proscription. A key hearing is scheduled for September 25.
Palestine Action cofounder Huda Ammori denounced the ban as a blow to civil liberties, warning it would fuel a broader erosion of free speech. Amnesty International UK echoed these concerns, with campaign director Kerry Moscogiuri arguing that peaceful protest should not be criminalised under terrorism legislation.
This latest demonstration is part of a wave of protests since the ban. More than 700 people have been arrested so far, including 532 at an August 9 rally — the largest mass arrest in London since the 1960s. Among those detained was Mike Higgins, a 62-year-old blind protester in a wheelchair, who returned to Parliament Square on Saturday.
“What choice do I have?” he told reporters. “Nothing is being done about the genocide other than by us. And I’m a terrorist? That’s the joke of it.”
Source: Al Jazeera and news agencies
