Met Police arrest more than 500 protesters supporting banned terror group Palestine Action

Oliver Trapnell
Sat, 11 Apr 2026 18:14:53 +0000

The Metropolitan Police has detained more than 500 protesters who staged a demonstration in support of the banned terror group Palestine Action.

Officers detained 523 individuals during the demonstration in Trafalgar Square on Saturday afternoon with those taken into custody ranging from 18 to 87 years old in age.

Late on Saturday, the Met confirmed it had revised its arrest figures up from around 200 to more than 500.

"We are grateful to all the officers involved for their professionalism," the force said.

Several hundred demonstrators assembled for the event, many of them elderly participants seated on camping chairs or the ground while displaying placards.

Images from the scene show protesters brandishing signs such as: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action".

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Large banners positioned near the National Gallery at the upper section of the square bore the statements "Jurors deserve to hear the whole truth" and "Israel starves kids".

The force wrote on X that officers were continuing to make arrests where individuals showed support for the banned group.

The Metropolitan Police had previously characterised Saturday's gathering as an event "likely to involve offending rather than a lawful protest".

Among those apprehended was Robert Del Naja, a member of the band Massive Attack, who was subsequently removed from the scene by three officers.

Prior to his detention, the musician made a speech about the potential consequences for his professional activities.

"Being a musician, obviously, there was a lot of trepidation around how we might not be able to travel and get visas," Del Naja said.

"But I thought 'this is ridiculous' and then the police made that U-turn to arrest people again, I thought that is even more ridiculous."

He explained his decision to hold a sign regardless, adding: "I think that the actions of Palestine Action were highly patriotic, because they were pretty much protecting our country from getting involved in serious war crimes, and breaking international law.

"How much more patriotic can you be than that?"

Footage captured officers removing Del Naja from the demonstration whilst fellow protesters applauded.

The band is scheduled to embark on European performances from May 26 through June 8, with dates in Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Belgium.

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A High Court judgement back in February determined the Government's designation of the group as a terrorist organisation was both disproportionate and unlawful.

The court concluded the majority of the group's activities had not achieved the level, scale and persistence required to constitute terrorism.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood subsequently obtained authorisation to challenge this ruling, with the appeal scheduled for hearing on April 28 and 29.

Following this development, the Metropolitan Police reversed their initial position of halting arrests under the Terrorism Act, characterising their earlier statement as merely an "interim position".

Officers resumed detaining suspected supporters in March as the legal proceedings continue.

Met Commander Claire Smart warned before Saturday's demonstration: "Those attending should be aware that showing support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act, and we will not hesitate to act where the law is broken."

The protest organisation Defend Our Juries, which coordinated the gathering designated "Everyone Day", stated the demonstration would exhibit that opposition to the ban remains robust.

Tom Southerden, Amnesty International UK’s law and human rights director, said: "Today’s mass arrests of peaceful protesters in Trafalgar Square under UK terrorism law are yet another blow to civil liberties in this country – and made all the more outrageous by the Metropolitan Police’s own U-turn.

"The High Court ruled in February that the proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful. The Met rightly said it would stop making arrests. It has now gone back to its old, failed policy – mass arrests of people holding pieces of card, including today an elderly woman with walking sticks. This is not policing. This is the state criminalising dissent.

"Peaceful protest is a fundamental right. People are understandably outraged by the ongoing genocide in Gaza and entitled under international human rights law to express their horror. These protesters were not inciting violence. They were holding signs. Arresting them as terrorists is not just disproportionate – it is absurd.

"We have long warned that UK terrorism law is excessively broad and a threat to freedom of expression. Today’s scenes prove that concern was justified."