In London on Saturday 41 participants of the action in support of the organisation Palestine Action, which is banned in the UK, were detained. This was reported by the Metropolitan Police. One more person was arrested on suspicion of committing an attack.
About 50 protesters gathered at the statue of Nelson Mandela near the British Parliament House, holding placards reading “I am against genocide. I support Palestine Action.” The detentions took place under the Anti-Terrorism Act, under which demonstrating solidarity with an organisation designated as a terrorist organisation can be treated as a criminal offence.
Last week, 29 people were arrested during a similar action in London. Police also made arrests at a demonstration in Manchester on Saturday. Solidarity actions with Palestine Action took place in Wales and Northern Ireland, but no arrests were reported there.
The UK government placed Palestine Action on the list of terrorist organisations in early July. The reason for this move was the infiltration of the activists into the military base of the Royal Air Force and damage to equipment in protest against Britain’s support for Israel.
The organisation is known for direct actions against Israeli and Israeli-affiliated companies in the UK, including defence contractor Elbit Systems. Their members have blocked entrances to the facilities of such companies, damaged equipment and spray-painted buildings.
The group could now face up to 14 years in prison for taking part in the group’s activities. Palestine Action’s lawyers unsuccessfully tried to appeal against the ban, saying it was the first time in British history that a group using only civil disobedience methods had been equated with a terrorist organisation.
The authorities’ decision has been criticised by human rights activists and opposition politicians, who consider the application of anti-terrorist norms to such protest movements to be an excessive and dangerous precedent.