LONDON (AP) – London police have arrested around 150 people after deliberately violating a new law banning support for pro-Palestinian groups as demonstrators say the law inappropriately restricts freedom of expression.
London’s metropolitan police were posted in a statement on X, previously known as Twitter. This is because officers are steadily working the crowd and making further arrests.
Supporters of Palestinian action have fought a string of protests across the UK since early July when Parliament banned the group and barred anyone from publicly showing support for it. Lawmakers banned the group as a terrorist group after activists broke into the royal air base and destroyed two tanker aircraft.
This is a news update. Previous stories about the AP are as follows:
LONDON (AP) – London police have begun arrests after hundreds of people intentionally violated a new law banning support for pro-Palestinian groups as they say the law inappropriately limits freedom of expression.
Supporters of Palestinian action have fought a string of protests across the UK since early July when Parliament banned the group and barred anyone from publicly showing support for it. Lawmakers banned the group as a terrorist group after activists broke into the royal air base and destroyed two tanker aircraft.
Protesters gathered in a square outside the parliament on Saturday afternoon, with dozens showing signs saying, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestinian actions.” It was enough for the police to intervene.
“In this crowd, a considerable number of people are showing placards expressing their support for Palestinian actions. This is a prohibited group,” the Metropolitan Police Service said of X.
Interior Secretary Yvette Cooper moved to ban Palestinian actions after activists broke into the country. Royal Air Force Base In southern England on June 20th to protest British military support for Israel War with Hamas. Activists sprayed red paint on the engines of two tanker planes at RAF Bryce Norton Station in Oxfordshire, causing further damage with the clover.
Palestinian actions previously targeted Israeli defense contractors and other sites in the UK, and therefore believed they had ties to Israeli military forces.
Supporters of the group are challenging the court ban, saying the government was too far away from declaring Palestinian actions as a terrorist organization.
“When the meaning of “terrorism” is separated from the campaign of violence against civilians and expanded to include those who cause economic damage and embarrassment to the rich, powerful, and criminals, the right to freedom of expression is meaningless and democracy is dead.”
The arrest outside the parliament is expected to be a busy weekend in London as a war in Gaza, and among the concerns that migrants have come about over protests and rebels across the UK.
Prime Minister Kiel Starmer angered Israel with plans to recognize the Palestinian state later this year, but many Palestinian supporters in Britain have criticized the government for not doing enough to end the war in Gaza.
Palestinian parent protesters gathered in central London on Saturday afternoon for a march that was scheduled to end outside the gates of the prime minister’s official residence and office, No. 10 Downing Street.
On Sunday, many groups are scheduled to march through central London to demand the safe release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. Palestinian extremists have detained prisoners of war since attacking Israel on October 7, 2023.
Police are also preparing for protests outside hotels across the country, which are being used to house asylum seekers. Protesters and protesters have squared outside hotels in recent weeks, with some saying immigrants pose a risk to their communities and others condemn anti-immigrant racism.
Deputy Director Ade Adelekan said the scale of the event would “put pressure” on the police department.
“This will be a few days in London, particularly busy days. Many simultaneous protests and events require the presence of important policing,” Aderecan said before the protest began.
