The Met Police is arresting supporters of banned Palestine Action at a major protest in central London today.
Thousands were expected to attend the mass event as police warned it expects ‘criminal offences’ to take place.
Demonstrators taking part in the action in Trafalgar Square from 1pm today unfurled banners reading ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’.
Defend Our Juries said the demonstration, called Everyone Day, will show the ‘resistance’ to the ban on Palestine Action is ‘stronger than ever’.
The Metropolitan Police said Saturday’s action ‘is likely to involve offending rather than a lawful protest’.
In March, the force said officers would resume arresting suspected Palestine Action supporters, as a High Court battle over the legality of the group, which was banned under terrorism legislation by the government in July, continues.
The police paused arresting demonstrators in February after the High Court ruled the Government’s ban was unlawful, but then decided to resume as an appeal against the ruling is likely to take several months.
Proscription makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Police began making arrests after demonstrators taking part in the action in Trafalgar Square from 1pm today unfurled banners reading ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’
Police officers arrest a woman at a protest in support of banned group Palestine Action in Trafalgar Square, central London on Saturday
Demonstrators participate in ‘Everyone Day’, a mass action against the Government’s proscription of Palestine Action today
Officers from the Met Police carry a woman protesting in support of Palestine Action into custody
Police remove a protester at a demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action, in Trafalgar Square, central London
Hundreds of demonstrators sat on camping chairs and on the ground as they held up their placards on Saturday afternoon.
At the top of the square, near the National Gallery, large banners were displayed reading: ‘Jurors deserve to hear the whole truth’ and ‘Israel starves kids’.
The group, which organisers Defend Our Juries said consisted of some 500 people, initially sat silently as around 100 police officers moved in to make arrests.
But some later started chanting ‘shame on you’ at officers as they carried protesters who refused to walk to police vans away.
Yael Kahn, who used to care for female political prisoners in Gaza before moving to England and who was at today’s protest, said: ‘I wish, when my family was exterminated in the Holocaust by Nazi Germany, I wish there were people protesting, like all of these lovely people here. I absolutely adore them.’
A 53-year-old woman at today’s demonstration said she attended to help defend the right to protest.
She said the government ‘wants to get rid of an organisation that opposes genocide, is trying to dismantle the tools of genocide, by taking direct action on weapons manufacturing, and that’s a civil right to be able to protest in that way.’
She added: ‘I’m basically here to uphold the right to protest in non violent, disobedient ways.’
Shortly after the group arrived, the Met Police said in a statement on X: ‘We have seen a group of people sit down with signs showing support for Palestine Action. Officers are beginning to make arrests and work through the group. Some are refusing to move so will be carried into custody.’
Ahead of the protest, Defend Our Juries said: ‘This issue affects everyone. From striking workers to peaceful protesters, everyone fighting for any worthy cause is at risk.
‘If left unopposed, what starts with an unlawful ban on one direct action group will lead on to the removal of everyone’s rights and freedoms.’
In an Instagram post last month, the group said that ‘it’s imperative we show that resistance to the ban is stronger than ever’, adding ‘we will never comply’.
Four Met Police officers carry a woman taking part in a protest in support of Palestine Action
Police officers detain a protester after the Met announced it would resume arrests for supporters of banned Palestine Action
Police remove a protester at a demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action in central London on Saturday
A woman in handcuffs is escorted by a police officer with a sign reading ‘And I still support Palestine Action’
A man is detained while protesting in support of Palestine Action in London on Saturday
Hundreds of protesters turned up to the action in Trafalgar Square today and unfurled signs in support of Palestine Action
Police vans lined the streets around Trafalgar Square on Saturday in preparation for the mass arrests
Commander Claire Smart, who is leading policing operations in London this weekend, said: ‘We are preparing for another busy weekend where we anticipate policing a large-scale event that is expected to involve criminal offences.
‘While the Met regularly polices peaceful and lawful protest without the need for arrests, this event presents different considerations.
‘At previous events linked to this group we have seen co-ordinated attempts to disrupt police activity, including obstructing officers and, at times, verbal or physical abuse.
‘I would strongly encourage anyone considering attending to reflect on the potential consequences. An arrest and criminal record can have serious and lasting effects.
‘I am very grateful to the officers and staff working across London this weekend. I recognise the sustained pressure posed by repeated public order events and the dedication shown by those continuing to deliver vital policing services.’
Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Saturday, former Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu said: ‘I think the difficulty is, when you’ve got 700 or 800 people who are willing to be arrested, that just isn’t practical. The optics of this will be very challenging for the police.
‘It will present some significant difficulties for the police in terms of how they manage it and also be aware of the fact there will be a huge amount of people who have sympathy with what is going on with the views of Palestine Action.’
He added that the decision to make arrests at the protest was an operational one, based on what intelligence the officers have.
He said: ‘I think they wanted to give clear guidance to the police officers that will be dealing with this matter. This will be an operational decision.
‘It will be based entirely on what intelligence they have, whether they have information around how many people are going to come out, what people intend to do, the kind of demonstration that they will do.’
Akiko Hart, director of human rights charity Liberty, told the Today programme she believed a new definition of terrorism was needed.
She said: ‘Liberty intervened in the case because we believe that the UK’s definition of terrorism is so broad and so wide-ranging that it captures behaviour that most people would not consider to be terrorism.
‘When it’s not clear what terrorism is, public trust collapses. And if public trust collapses, then counter-terror laws simply don’t work, which is why we need a new definition of terrorism.’
Protesters have arranged mass rallies where demonstrators hold up signs saying ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’, aiming to overwhelm the criminal justice system with the number of cases.
More than 3,000 people have been arrested so far for allegedly expressing support for Palestine Action since it was banned as a terrorist group last year, including more than 2,400 in London.
Seven people were arrested on suspicion of supporting the banned group at an RAF base in Suffolk on Sunday, during protests against the Iran war.
In March, 18 Palestine Action supporters were arrested after staging a demonstration outside New Scotland Yard in support of the group.
The trials of hundreds of people accused of holding up the placards have been put on hold while the High Court case over the ban continues.