Over 500 held at pro-Palestinian rally in UK

Lead

LONDON — Police in London arrested more than 500 people on Saturday at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Trafalgar Square, in a crackdown that has drawn criticism from civil liberties groups and prompted at least one prominent musician to call his arrest unlawful.

The Metropolitan Police said on social media platform X that 523 people, aged between 18 and 87, were taken into custody for showing support for Palestine Action, which the UK government proscribed as a terrorist organisation in July. The ban makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

The protest was the first mass gathering since London's High Court ruled in February that the ban was "disproportionate and unlawful," interfering with freedom of speech. The government, led by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, has been granted permission to appeal that ruling, and the Metropolitan Police — after briefly pausing arrests — announced in late March they would resume enforcement.

According to multiple reports, officers carried away activists from the sit-down demonstration to cheers and clapping from other protesters. Witnesses described an elderly woman using walking sticks being escorted away by police.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the event varies significantly across outlets, particularly on the number of arrests. Most sources, including Reuters, the Jerusalem Post, The Hindu, and Al Jazeera, reported the Metropolitan Police's figure of 523 arrests. However, one report from Dawn cited 212 arrests, based on a police statement. The discrepancy remains unreconciled, with no single source explaining the difference.

The framing also differs. Some outlets, such as Al Jazeera and The Guardian, emphasise the crackdown on peaceful protest and the legal dispute over the ban. Others, like the Jerusalem Post, present the arrests more straightforwardly as a police operation against supporters of a proscribed group.

Key Claims

• Arrest numbers: The Metropolitan Police reported 523 arrests, but some media outlets, including Dawn, cited a lower figure of 212. The exact number remains contested.

• Legal backdrop: Palestine Action was banned in July 2025 under anti-terrorism legislation after members broke into an RAF base. In February 2026, the High Court ruled the ban unlawful, citing free speech concerns. The government is appealing that decision, and the police resumed arrests in late March.

• Civil liberties concerns: Amnesty International UK condemned the arrests as "yet another blow to civil liberties," noting that police had "gone back to its old, failed policy – mass arrests of people holding pieces of card."

• Celebrity arrest: Robert Del Naja, frontman of the band Massive Attack, was arrested at the protest. He told the Press Association he believed the arrest was "unlawful" and that he would challenge it in court.

• Organiser statements: Defend Our Juries, the group that organised the protest, criticised the police for making arrests despite the High Court's ruling and called the crackdown "misguided."

Perspectives

Protesters and Organisers

Protesters said they were exercising free speech and opposing the government's stance on Gaza. Denis MacDermot, 73, from Edinburgh, said he had been arrested before and had no hesitation returning. Freya, 28, a London environmental manager, said it was important to "continue to oppose genocide." Defend Our Juries said the protest aimed to oppose "the UK Government's complicity in Israel's genocide in Gaza and the misguided crackdown on peaceful protest at home."

Police and Government

Police defended the arrests, with Commander Claire Smart saying: "Those attending should be aware that showing support for a proscribed organisation is an offence under the Terrorism Act, and we will not hesitate to act where the law is broken." The Home Office has appealed the High Court's ruling, arguing that the ban is necessary for national security.

Legal and Human Rights Groups

Amnesty International UK and other civil liberties advocates have criticised the mass arrests, arguing that the High Court's ruling means the ban is legally questionable. They contend that prosecuting people for peaceful protest undermines fundamental rights.

Timeline and Context

Palestine Action, a direct action group, has claimed responsibility for actions including a break-in at an RAF base and attacks on businesses linked to Israel's weapons industry. The UK government proscribed the group in July 2025, but the High Court's February ruling cast doubt on the legality of the ban. The appeal is scheduled to be heard on 28 and 29 April.

Notably, the police initially said they would stop arresting people for showing support for Palestine Action after the High Court ruling, but reversed that position in late March after the government was granted permission to appeal. This U-turn has been a focal point of criticism from protesters and civil liberties groups.

Since the ban was imposed, nearly 3,000 people have been arrested, mostly for displaying placards in support of the group. Hundreds now face charges.

Del Naja's arrest has added a cultural dimension to the story. The Massive Attack frontman, who is due to begin a European tour in May, said he feared the arrest could affect his ability to travel, but decided to attend the protest anyway. "I feel very confident that if I stand up in court with the right guidance and say, 'This was an unlawful arrest and, therefore, I don't accept it'," he said.

As the legal battle continues, the streets of London have become a stage for a broader confrontation over the limits of protest and the definition of terrorism.