Police make dozens of arrests at Palestine Action protests across Britain

West Midlands Police confirmed it had taken 25 suspects into custody under the Terrorism Act after a protest was staged in Birmingham city centre where "a number of people carried placards expressing support for Palestine Action".

Palestine Action was proscribed by the Government in July, which made membership of, or support for, the group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Chief Inspector James Littlehales said: "We fully recognise people’s right to demonstrate peacefully, and many people continue to protest in support of Palestine without breaking the law.

"But we will take appropriate action where people are breaching the law by showing support for proscribed organisations."

Activist group Defend Our Juries organised demonstrations in 10 towns and cities, including in Birmingham, to protest "against our Government’s complicity in genocide and against the ban on Palestine Action".

10 protestors were arrested for suspected terror offences in Norwich after allegedly holding Palestine Action placards.

Officers were called to the city centre at 12.30pm and said the "incident was resolved" at around 3pm.

Superintendent Terry Lordan, of Norfolk Constabulary, said: "The actions of this group were unlawful and officers have used their powers accordingly."

A separate march in London, organised by the Palestine Coalition, drew an estimated 100,000 people, according to organisers.

The Metropolitan Police said one arrest was made during the protest for affray.

Four people were "detained on suspicion of Public Order Act offences and inquiries are ongoing", the force added.

The demonstrators, many of whom were carrying Palestine flags, chanted “From the sea to the river, Palestine will live forever” and “Israel is a terrorist state” as they processed from Green Park to Whitehall.

Some of the demonstrators set off green and red fireworks as they walked down Piccadilly in central London.

Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy told demonstrators in London that “the UK must stop enabling violence”.

Addressing protesters in Whitehall, Ms Ribeiro-Addy said: “We’re here because we know that even as political leaders congratulate themselves on this so-called ceasefire, the genocide in Gaza continues in real time.”

"A ceasefire in name only is not a ceasefire, it’s a political risk management exercise. It’s designed to protect foreign partners and deflect domestic accountability," she added.

“What’s happening on the ground is completely incompatible with the language being used in press and parliamentary briefings.

“The UK’s role hasn’t changed either, you cannot credibly call for peace abroad while enabling violence through policy at home.”

Poplar and Limehouse MP Apsana Begum said demonstrators would not stop marching until there was a “free and independent Palestine”.

Avon and Somerset Constabulary meanwhile said 30 people were arrested in Bristol on suspicion of terror offences after officers “attempted to engage with protesters to explain that it was a criminal offence to express support for the Palestine Action group".

Palestine Action’s co-founder Huda Ammori is taking legal action against the Home Office over then-home secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe the group under anti-terror laws.

Ms Ammori was previously given the green light to bring her challenge, with her lawyers now arguing at the High Court in London that the decision to ban the group is unlawful.

The Home Office is defending the claim.

At a High Court hearing this week, Raza Husain KC, for the group’s co-founder, said the ban was unprecedented.

He said: “Palestine Action is the first direct-action civil disobedience organisation that does not advocate for violence ever to be proscribed as terrorist.”

Mr Husain said that Ms Ammori was “inspired by the long tradition of direct-action civil disobedience in this country” and by “people, as she says, taking action to prevent harm before it happens”, citing the suffragettes and Iraq war activists.

During the hearing, scores of people assembled outside the Royal Courts of Justice holding placards which read “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”.

Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, said the ban “strikes a fair balance between interference with the rights of the individuals affected and the interests of the community”.

In written submissions, he also said the Home Secretary did not have to consider what proportion of a group’s actions were “concerned in terrorism”.

He continued: “Parliament intended the proscription regime to be available even where only some of the activities of an organisation are ‘concerned in terrorism’.

“Similarly, there is no requirement that activities ‘concerned in terrorism’ happen at a certain frequency or tempo.”

The hearing is due to conclude on December 2, with a decision expected in writing at a later date.