LONDON (AP) — The Metropolitan Police Service reported on Sunday that 532 individuals were arrested in London the previous day. These arrests took place during a demonstration organized by supporters of a recently designated terrorist organization, Palestine Action. The protesters intended to challenge the government's ability to enforce the ban on the group as they displayed their opposition to the regulation.
The police stated that the vast majority of those detained were apprehended for showing support for Palestine Action, which has been prohibited under anti-terror laws. Under these laws, 522 people were charged with supporting a proscribed organization, while an additional 10 individuals faced various charges, including assaulting and obstructing police officers.
Supporters of Palestine Action held the protest to assert their belief that the government's actions constitute an illegal infringement on their freedom of expression. They argued that banning the organization restricts their rights to assemble and protest peacefully. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, however, countered this viewpoint. In her official statement, she emphasized that Palestine Action was banned following a series of serious attacks that resulted in significant injuries and extensive criminal damage, asserting that this group does not advocate nonviolent methods.
In response to the crackdown on the protests, police released updated information, which depicted elderly individuals being taken away by officers. One such individual was La Pethick, an 89-year-old retired psychotherapist, who voiced her concerns to the Times of London. She claimed to have the support of her five grandchildren and expressed feelings that their right to peaceful protest was being curtailed. Notably, nearly half of those arrested during the protest were over the age of 60, according to Metropolitan Police figures.
The police have indicated that the process of determining whether to charge those arrested could extend over several weeks, as officers from the Met's Counter Terrorism Command work on assembling case files and consulting with prosecutors, as well as the attorney general in certain instances.
The decision to outlaw Palestine Action came after the organization orchestrated a break-in at a Royal Air Force base, where they inflicted damage on two tanker planes as a protest against Britain's support for military actions in Gaza. Historically, Palestine Action has targeted Israeli defense contractors and other entities in the UK that they believe are linked to the Israeli military.
In an effort to challenge the legality of the ban, supporters of Palestine Action are preparing to bring the matter before the courts, asserting that the government's designation of the group as a terrorist organization violates human rights laws.
