A total of 890 individuals were detained in London during a protest this weekend in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action, as reported by the Metropolitan Police of the capital on Sunday.
The police force indicated that 857 individuals were arrested under anti-terrorism legislation for their support of a banned group during the demonstration on Saturday, with an additional 33 individuals detained for various offences, including assaults on police personnel.
“We have a responsibility to uphold the law impartially. If you announce your intention to commit a crime, we are compelled to take appropriate action,” stated deputy assistant commissioner Claire Smart in a press release.
The demonstration occurred following Britain’s prohibition of Palestine Action in July under the Terrorism Act, after incidents where members infiltrated a Royal Air Force base and caused damage to military aircraft. Supporting or being affiliated with the group now carries a potential prison sentence of up to 14 years.
The Metropolitan Police reported that officers encountered “an extraordinary level of abuse” during the protest, which included punches, kicks, spitting, and objects being hurled. The police force also noted that there was “a coordinated effort to obstruct officers from performing their duties” and pledged that anyone who assaulted police would face prosecution “to the fullest extent of the law.”
Defend Our Juries, the organization that coordinated the rally, accused the police of employing violence, claiming that officers had “violently assaulted peaceful protesters, including the elderly, in an attempt to arrest over a thousand individuals for merely holding cardboard signs.” The group released footage showing an officer pushing an elderly demonstrator to the ground. A spokesperson remarked that the ban was “impossible to enforce and a ludicrous waste of resources,” further stating that “resistance to this absurd ban continues to grow exponentially.”
The rally commenced at 1 pm, featuring hundreds of predominantly older demonstrators brandishing placards or papers in support of Palestine Action. Approximately 15 minutes later, police initiated arrests, escorting protesters away individually while the crowd chanted “shame on you” at the officers. Numerous demonstrators adhered to the organisers’ suggestion to go “floppy” in order to complicate the arrest process.
Those who were detained were transported to vans stationed along Millbank. It was not immediately evident how many individuals declined to disclose their names and addresses, as this would lead to their continued detention instead of being granted bail.
