UK Police Have Arrested 523 People, Including Massive Attack’s Frontman, For Protesting In Support Of Palestine Action
Police announced they would resume arresting people who show support for Palestine Action, despite the court ruling.
UK police arrested 523 people aged 18 to 87 for protesting against the UK government’s proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group.
Palestine Action is a pro-Palestine group founded in 2020 that uses non-violent direct action to disrupt the arms industry in the UK, which supplies the Israeli army with weapons used in its genocide in Gaza.
The group most frequently targets British factories linked to Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems.
The UK government banned Palestine Action in 2025 under the Terrorism Act 2000, citing incidents including a break-in and damage to aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, a Royal Air Force base.
The move made it illegal for people in the UK to be a member of or support Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act of 2000.
People found guilty of supporting Palestine Action will face penalties of up to 14 years in prison, similar to showing support for groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda.
But on Feb 13, the UK High Court ruled that the ban on Palestine Action was unlawful.
After the ruling, London's Metropolitan Police said they were unlikely to keep arresting people for showing support for the group.
However, the UK government appealed the decision, meaning the ban remains in force for now.
Police then announced they would resume arresting people who show support for Palestine Action, despite the court ruling.
On Saturday, April 11, more than 1,000 people gathered at Trafalgar Square in London for a protest organised by Defend Our Juries called "Everyone Day."
The protest included a sit-down vigil, with people holding Palestine flags, wearing keffiyehs and carrying signs.
Demonstrators, many of them elderly, sat quietly holding signs, saying "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."
London’s Metropolitan Police then arrested 523 people aged between 18 and 87 for allegedly showing support for a proscribed organization.
Among the hundreds of people that were arrested was Massive Attack’s frontman Robert Del Naja.
At the protest, Del Naja, also known as 3D, was seen holding a sign that read “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”, as he joined others sitting in the square.
Swedish Climate activist Greta Thunberg was also arrested on December 23, 2025, after holding a sign that read “I support Palestine Action”.
Cherry Mohamed
Cherry Mohamed
Cherry Mohamed
