Campaigners challenging Palestine Action ban face 42 terrorism charges

Six campaigners seeking to lift the UK government's ban on direct action group Palestine Action have been charged with terrorism offences for allegedly expressing support for the now-proscribed organisation.

Defend Our Juries (DOJ) said on Tuesday that six of their key spokespeople had been rounded up in dawn raids, hours before a scheduled news conference announcing that a mass action to challenge the ban would be going ahead this Saturday.

The police said the six people were charged as part of an investigation led by the Counter Terrorism Command, in relation to their allegedly coordinating protests and 13 Zoom calls in support of Palestine Action.

The spokespeople, including former government lawyer Tim Crosland, were held over the custody time limit of 24 hours and had their homes raided, according to DOJ.

DOJ said that during a hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday, the judge granted the defendants bail, rejecting a request by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to hold them on remand.

Read more: Campaigners challenging Palestine Action ban face 42 terrorism charges