UK police arrest over 500 during Palestine Action protest

The UK Metropolitan Police on Saturday arrested 523 individuals for supporting Palestine Motion, a proscribed organisation. These arrested ranged in age from 18 to 87 years outdated.

A whole bunch of individuals gathered in Trafalgar Sq. on Saturday to peacefully protest the continuing classification of Palestine Motion as a terrorist organisation beneath the UK Terrorism Act 2000. Beginning at 1 pm, demonstrators arrived on the sq., the place they proceeded to sit down silently and maintain indicators displaying help for the organisation. In accordance with Defend Our Juries, the organisers behind the occasion, the arrests started shortly after graduation. An aged pensioner was arrested, marking the primary arrest of the day. By early night, the police said that Trafalgar Sq. had been cleared.

Defend Our Juries deliberate the demonstration to demand that the ban on Palestine Motion be lifted, and that the Israeli assault on the Palestinian individuals be declared a genocide by the UK authorities. Of their assertion making ready for the occasion, Defend Our Juries drew consideration to the just about 3000 individuals who have been arrested to this point for holding indicators announcing help for Palestine Motion, and reiterated that the Excessive Court docket had dominated the proscription illegal.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s authorities labeled Palestine Motion as a terrorist group in July, 2025. Part 1(b) of the UK Terrorism Act 2000 defines terrorism as an motion that includes severe property injury. Parliament can classify a gaggle as a terrorist organisation beneath Part 3 of the act for taking part in or glorifying acts of terrorism.

In February, the UK Excessive Court docket of Justice dominated that the Residence Secretary acted unlawfully in designating Palestine Motion as a terrorist organisation and ordered the choice to be quashed. The Excessive Court docket dominated that the ban on the group’s actions ought to be lifted, ensuing within the Metropolitan Police stopping arrests. Nevertheless, on the finish of February, the Residence Secretary was granted depart to enchantment the choice and the sooner determination to quash the ban was stayed. In impact, as soon as the enchantment was granted, the ban on Palestine Motion returned. 

The arrests on Saturday deliver the overall variety of individuals arrested for supporting Palestine Motion to above 3000. In August 2025, 466 demonstrators have been arrested at a protest at Westminster, drawing concern from rights teams. Greater than 500 of the over 3000 arrested have been charged beneath part 13 of the Terrorism Act.

Defend Our Juries is an organisation whose goals are to deliver public consideration to makes an attempt at undermining trial by jury, to boost consciousness of the precise juries should acquit individuals as a matter of ethical conscience, and to make sure that all defendants have the chance to clarify the motivation behind their actions.