Palestine Action defies terror ban by setting up secret website to recruit new members amid further planned protests
The new website is said to have been set up an hour after the group was proscribed
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Palestine Action is said to have set up a secret website to recruit supporters after the UK Government introduced a terror ban on the group.
The organisation is claimed to be directing activists to a new website called Direct Action Training.
It was set up an hour before Palestine Action was designated as a terror group and has an IP address in Iceland, which is not part of any major international surveillance alliances, The Telegraph reports.
A statement on Palestine Action's former website now reads: "Palestine Action is proscribed in Britain.
"For that reason, the website has been transferred to others in the global movement who are not active in Britain or British nationals."
To register with the new site, potential activists are asked a series of questions including if they will be "willing to take action that risks arrest".
The form also says training will be "specifically aimed at dismantling the Zionist war machine in the UK", according to The Telegraph.
It comes after MPs overwhelmingly voted in favour of Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's decision to proscribe Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act 2000, with the House of Lords backing the move.
The ban makes being a member or inviting support of the group a criminal offence, carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
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The co-founder of the group, Huda Ammori, had requested the court temporarily block Labour from banning it but the move was refused by a High Court judge.
Speaking following the request, Justice Chamberlain said: "The interim relief sought here would suspend the effect of an order which the Secretary of State considers is required in the public interest, and which has been affirmed by both Houses of Parliament.
"In those circumstances, other things being equal, there is a strong reason to allow the Secretary of State to make the order in what she considers to be a lawful manner."
More than 20 people were arrested on Saturday, July 5, after Palestine Action members staged a protest in Parliament Square, London.
Palestine Action protestors in London on Saturday
PAPolice were met with cries of "Met Police, you are puppets of the Zionist state" and "leave them alone" upon arresting protesters.
One exclaimed: "British police off our streets," with chants of "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," being heard.
One woman was seen lying on the floor in handcuffs before being taken away by officers.
While being taken away, she said: "Free Palestine, stop the genocide, I oppose genocide, I support the rights of the Palestinian people, I support freedom of speech, I support freedom of assembly."
Another supporter of the group described feeling "powerless" and said they have to think "so carefully" about what they can say.
They said: "I can't be true to my life, to my feelings and beliefs. I've never felt like that before. It's a frightening feeling. It's chilling."
In a post to X on Saturday afternoon, Metropolitan Police said: "Officers are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square.
"The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence. Arrests are being made."
After the protest began at 1.10pm, most of the police dispersed at around 2.10pm.