London police arrest some 900 at latest rally by banned anti-Israel Palestine Action group
Hundreds gather near parliament to protest ban on proscribed organization; cops say they were ‘subjected to an exceptional level of abuse’ by demonstrators
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLONDON — British police said Saturday they had arrested around 900 people at a demonstration in support of Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian group banned by the government as a terrorist organization.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered near parliament in central London to protest against the ban, with many holding up signs that said: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
London’s Metropolitan Police said detainees were being held for a number of offenses, including assaulting police officers and supporting a proscribed organization.
“Officers … have been subjected to an exceptional level of abuse, including punches, kicks, spitting and objects being thrown, in addition to verbal abuse,” police said in a post on X.
Police had warned ahead of Saturday’s demonstration that anyone showing support for the group would be arrested.
Britain banned Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation in July after some of its members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged military planes. The group accuses Britain’s government of complicity in what it says are Israeli war crimes in Gaza.
Police officers seen arresting protesters during a rally supporting the banned anti-Israel Palestine Action group in London, September 6, 2025. (Ed Lawrence/AFPTV/AFP)
Police have arrested hundreds of Palestine Action supporters in recent weeks under anti-terrorism legislation, including over 500 in one day last month, many of them over the age of 60.
Officers continue to make arrests of individuals showing support for the proscribed terrorist organisation Palestine Action at the Defend Our Juries protest.
There has been a coordinated effort to prevent officers carrying out their duties which has included physical and verbal… pic.twitter.com/c3QTHQawBs
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) September 6, 2025
Palestine Action’s ban, or proscription, puts the group alongside al-Qaeda and ISIS and makes it a crime to support or belong to the organization, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
“I can be unequivocal: If you show support for Palestine Action – an offence under the Terrorism Act – you will be arrested,” Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said on Friday. “We have the officer numbers, custody capacity and all other resources to process as many people as is required.”
Human rights groups have criticized Britain’s decision to ban the group as disproportionate and say it limits the freedom of expression of peaceful protesters.
The government has accused Palestine Action of causing millions of pounds worth of criminal damage and says the ban does not prevent other pro-Palestinian protests.
The Times of Israel Community.