Police have arrested 466 people in central London on Saturday for protesting the British government’s decision to ban the pro-Palestinian activist group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws.
“As of 9pm, 466 people had been arrested for showing support for Palestine Action,” the Metropolitan Police wrote on X on Saturday.
Eight arrests were made for other offences, including five for assaults on officers, but police said none were seriously injured.
Palestine Action is a UK-based group which says it aims to disrupt the operations of weapons manufacturers supplying the Israeli government.
Last month, UK lawmakers voted to proscribe the group after two Palestine Action activists broke into Britain’s largest air base in central England in June, damaging two military aircraft.
The group’s ban makes it illegal under UK law to be a member of – or invite support for – Palestine Action and puts them on par with terrorist organizations such as Hamas, al Qaeda and ISIS.
Large crowds turned up for demonstrations organized by Defend Our Juries on Saturday afternoon at London’s Parliament Square. London’s Metropolitan Police had cautioned that it would arrest anyone showing support for the proscribed group.
Credit: cnn.com
