Almost 900 arrested at Palestine Action demonstration in London, police say

A total of 890 people have been arrested this weekend while protesting against the proscription of the direct action group Palestine Action, police said on Sunday.

The Metropolitan Police (Met) said that 857 people had been arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 for supporting a proscribed group during Saturday's demonstration.

An additional 33 were arrested for other offences, including assaults on police officers.

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

Officers surrounded protesters and carried them one by one to waiting vans, with police 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 to release them.

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

One protester was seen with blood streaming down his face after being arrested, while another could be heard shouting that police had injured his back during his arrest. 

Before the sit-in began at 1pm, organisers were seen handing out pens, pieces of cardboard and legal advice to participants in Parliament Square.

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

Among those detained by the police were scores of elderly protesters and families of Holocaust survivors, who sat silently on the green in Parliament Square. 

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

Before his arrest, he told MEE 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 it's 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," he said.

"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."

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 personal 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.”

However, 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 ruling allowing it to challenge the decision to grant a judicial review of Palestine Action's proscription under terror legislation, which had been scheduled for November.