Police arrest more than 460 protesters supporting banned group Palestine Action

The protestors held signs all reading: "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."

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The group are understood to have created plans to overwhelm the Metropolitan Police Force with large numbers of activists and make the laws unenforceable.

Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation on July 5, making it a criminal offence to show support for the organisation, carrying a sentence of up to 14 years in prison.

The Metropolitan Police issued an arrest update on their social media account. It read: "As of 9pm, 466 people had been arrested for showing support for Palestine Action.

"There were a further eight arrests for other offences including five assaults on officers."

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "The right to protest is one we protect fiercely but this is very different from displaying support for this one specific and narrow, proscribed organisation.

"Palestine Action was proscribed based on strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage.

"It also follows an assessment from the Joint Terrorism Assessment Centre that the group prepares for terrorism, as well as concerning information referencing plans and ideas for further attacks, the details of which cannot yet be publicly reported due to ongoing legal proceedings.

"Many people may not yet know the reality of this organisation, but the assessments are very clear - this is not a non-violent organisation. UK national security and public safety must always be our top priority.

“Their actions are not about the horrific suffering in the Middle East and do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who are exercising their rights to protest peacefully."

In the hours before the protest, the Metropolitan Police had issued a statement confirming: "Anyone showing support for the group can expect to be arrested."

Footage from the square showed officers moving among the protesters, who were mainly seated on the ground, and speaking to them before escorting them away.

The group Defend Our Juries announced the protest would go ahead earlier this week despite the ban.

A Home Office spokesperson said in a previous statement: "The Home Secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights.

"It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues."

Since the ban came into effect on July 5, over 200 people have been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 for showing support for the group.

Palestine Action are responsible for over 385 acts of criminal damage since its establishment in 2020.

With chronic shortages of prison spaces and the courts dealing with a backlog of around 77,000 cases, the move could create an intensely difficult situation for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

While planned protests have been seen across the UK, the main event took place in Westminster, where the majorty of arrests were made.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp told GB News: "Those supporting a banned organisation should feel the full force of the law.

"Palestine Action is a violent group that seeks to impose its views on others through force. They smash up property, vadalise RAF planes and have even attacked a police officer with a sledgehammer. In this country, we decide things by debate and elections not violence.

"Those illegally supporting Palestine Action today are supporting political violence. They are also wasting collosal amounts of police time which should be spent catching the many criminals circulating in Sadiq Khan’s London.

"Today’s protesters are cheerleaders for violent extremists."