Pro-Palestine activists arrested over 'assault and support for proscribed organisation' at Unite the Kingdom counter-protest

Nana Akua and Peter Tatchell discuss his support for the Palestine cause

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GB NEWS

Ed Griffiths

By Ed Griffiths


Published: 17/05/2026

- 11:24

Updated: 17/05/2026

- 11:24

More than 40 people were detained during the 'unprecedented' response to the 80,000 protesters in London yesterday

The Metropolitan Police have released the details of a dozen activists who were arrested following a pro-Palestinian Nakba Day protest that took place during the Unite the Kingdom rally.

Arrests included one marcher taken into custody for supporting a proscribed organisation and another was detained for assaulting an emergency worker.


Authorities also confirmed three breaches of Section 14 of the Public Order Act conditions, three public order offences and three offences for failing to remove a face covering.

Scotland Yard said a further seven hate crime offences linked to the Nakba protest remain under investigation, with suspects still outstanding.

A total of 43 arrests were made during the "unprecedented" police response to the 80,000 Unite the Kingdom and Nakba protesters in London yesterday.

Eight people were either not affiliated with either group or had affiliations that could not be confirmed.

Two hate crime-related arrests were linked to the Nakba protest and nine to Unite the Kingdom rally.

Police recorded a total of 11 hate crime-related arrests.

Nakba protest

Police have released the details of 12 pro-Palestine activists who were arrested following the Nakba protest

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The offences included incidents motivated by race, religion, sexuality and disability.

In total, 20 people were arrested who were affiliated with the Unite the Kingdom rally.

Arrests included a person wanted for a previous telecommunications offence, 10 public order offences and one assault occasioning actual bodily harm offence.

Nakba protest

Arrests included one marcher taken into custody for supporting a proscribed organisation

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GETTY

One person wanted for previous grievous bodily harm (GBH) offences was also taken into custody.

Other arrests included three drunk and disorderly offences, two assaults on emergency workers, one criminal damage offence, and one possession of an offensive weapon offence.

Police said arrests among those with no confirmed affiliation included two theft offences, one drunk and disorderly offence, one common assault and one ABH offence.

They also took others into custody, including one for an immigration offence, one for drug possession, and one for failing to provide details when required.

Nakba protest

Police recorded a total of 11 hate crime-related arrests

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GETTY

Armoured cars, facial recognition, drones and horses were deployed by the Metropolitan Police.

The major police operation has cost the police £4.5million, with 4,000 officers on duty.

The force was able to avoid clashes between the two rallies.

Live facial recognition was used for the first time in a protest policing operation, with cameras set up in an area of Camden not on the route of the Unite the Kingdom rally.