On Saturday, September 6th, 890 people were arrested during a London protest against the designation of Palestine Action as a terror group. Most of them were detained under the Terrorism Act, while others were held for separate offences—including, allegedly, assaulting police officers, the Metropolitan Police said on Sunday.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Claire Smart praised her officers’ response and confirmed that arrests have led to charges.
Protest organizers called the rally peaceful, but police contrasted it with other non-violent protests the same day.
Palestine Action was banned as terrorist on July 5th, with the support of MPs, following criminal damage at a British air base. By placing a direct action group in the same legal category as Hamas and Hezbollah, the government has enabled a strategy—promoted by ‘Defend Our Juries’—of facilitating mass arrests.
Defense Secretary John Healey said the new Home Secretary will likely maintain a tough line on the group.
