Police use batons as dozens arrested at Palestine Action protest

The London Metropolitan Police used batons to disperse peaceful protestors and arrested dozens of demonstrators calling on the UK government to reverse its decision to designate Palestine Action as a terrorist group. 

Hundreds had gathered in Westminster's Parliament Square on Saturday, holding cardboard placards reading "I support Palestine Action" and flags in support of Palestine. 

Officers surrounded protestors and carried them one by one to waiting vans, with an officer holding each limb, as crowds chanted "shame on you." 

Some of those facing arrest stayed silent, while others chanted "free Palestine" and urged officers not to follow orders and let them go.

Middle East Eye also saw officers reading out a pre-prepared statement to protestors they were arresting, stating that they were detaining them on "suspicion that you are a member or supporter of the proscribed group Palestine Action."

One protestor was seen with blood streaming down his face after they were arrested at the rally. While another protestor could be heard screaming that the police had hurt his back during their arrest. 

Before the protest, organisers were seen handing out pens, pieces of cardboard and legal advice to participants, before they sat down at 1PM in parliament square. 

Officers from City of London Police, Wales Police and Suffolk Police could be seen assisting the Metropolitan Police's operation on Saturday. 

Among the group of people detained by the police included scores of elderly protestors and families of Holocaust survivors who sat silently on the green in Parliament Square. 

Steve Masters, a British army veteran, was arrested by Metropolitan Police for holding a paper sign in support of Palestine Action and was carried away by officers after being removed from his wheelchair.

Before his arrest, he told Middle East Eye that he joined the protests after witnessing the "depressing scenes unfolding in Gaza."

"I served in the Royal Air Force for 19 years. I feel its important to be here because, whether or not you agree with the tactics of Palestine Action and others - the reality is that our government is complicit in genocide at the highest level," Masters told Middle East Eye. 

"Coming here to oppose the proscription is the least I can do, compared to the sacrifices being made by the people of Gaza and by those taking direct action with Palestine Action."

The London Metropolitan Police on X said the police at 5PM had arrested 150 people so far, adding that officers had been subjected to an “exceptional level of abuse including punches, kicks, spitting and objects being thrown, in addition to verbal abuse”.

“Any assaults against officers will not be tolerated and arrests have already been made,” they added in a post on X. “We will identify all those responsible and prosecute to the full extent of the law.”

Defend Our Juries (DOJ), which has staged regular protests since the government moved to proscribe Palestine Action in July, told protesters who signed up for Saturday’s demonstration to withhold their details from officers to force mass processing at police stations.

The group had scheduled a press conference on Tuesday to announce that an estimated 1,500 people were going to risk arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding signs reading, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

But the conference was postponed after seven of its key speakers, including former government lawyer Tim Crosland, were arrested under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000. DOJ said arrestees had been held over the custody time limit of 24 hours and had their homes raided.

On Thursday, the Home Office won a legal decision to challenge the decision to grant a judicial review of Palestine Action's proscription under terror legislation that was due to be held in November.