Chaos explodes in Parliament Square: Hundreds of police officers arrest over 50 Palestine
By AIDAN RADNEDGE, and ISAAC CROWSON and RICHARD LEMMER
Palestine Action supporters have swarmed London's Parliament Square as hundreds of police officers have begun carrying out arrests - while migrant protests across the country have prompted chaos fears.
The Metropolitan Police said it has drawn officers in from other forces to help form a 'significant policing presence' as it faces a busy weekend of demos, with clashes seen breaking out today in the heart of the capital.
Between 600 and 700 are participating in a protest supporting the proscribed group in Parliament Square, according to organisers Defend Our Juries, who claimed the Met were preparing for 'the largest mass arrest in their history'.
The ban means that membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Chaos ensued shortly after the protest began just before 1pm, as officers were seen lifting protesters - some sitting and some lying flat - off the ground before escorting them away.
At 2pm, the force said it had arrested more than 50 people so far and vowed to make further arrests for 'anyone expressing support for Palestine Action'.
A wide variety of messages were today seen on display, with some activists wearing signs saying 'I am on duty to stop genocide', while others held placards that read: 'Our right to non-violent protest.'
Men and women of different ages were seen being arrested by officers, while witnesses estimated there were about 300 police and 200 protesters so far - and there were scuffles between rival groups, witnesses told.
Today's action comes days after the first three people to be charged with supporting the group in England and Wales were named.
Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, also 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, have all been charged with displaying an article in a public place, arousing reasonable suspicion that they are a supporter of a proscribed organisation after their attendance at a previous demonstration last month.
Palestine Action supporters have swarmed London's Parliament Square as hundreds of police officers have begun carrying out arrests
Members of the Metropolitan Police gather in Parliament Square in London in response to a 'Lift The Ban' demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action today
Protesters hold signs vowing support for Palestine Action in Parliament Square on Saturday
Police officers attend the scene of the pro Palestine 'Lift The Ban' protest at Parliament Square in London today
Hundreds of pro-Palestine campaigners are descending on London's Parliament Square
Campaigners were seen brandishing placards showing their support for Palestine Action
Police and Palestine Action campaigners are seen here in Trafalgar Square on June 23 this year
Protesters holding Palestinian flags during a demo outside London's Royal Courts of Justice on July 4 as Palestine Action launched a challenge against the government's ban on the group
More than 200 people have been arrested in the wave of Defend Our Juries protests across the UK since the ban was implemented by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last month.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said: 'The Met is very experienced at dealing with large-scale protests, including where the protest activity crosses into criminality, requiring arrests.
'While we will not go into the specific details of our plan, the public can be assured that we will have the resources and processes in place to respond to any eventuality.
'Anyone showing support for Palestine Action can expect to be arrested. I would once again urge people to consider the seriousness of that outcome.
'An arrest under the Terrorism Act can have very real long-term implications - from travel, to employment, to finances. Also, as we have seen this week, it is very likely an arrest in these circumstances will lead to a charge.'
Two marches organised by the Palestine Coalition and pro-Israeli group Stop the Hate, respectively, will also be held on consecutive days in central London.
The coalition's supporters will march from Russell Square to Whitehall followed by an assembly with speeches.
Public order conditions have been imposed on the march which means it must not form or begin before noon, protesters must not deviate from or stop to form assemblies along the agreed route and the protest must end by 5.30pm, the Met said.
The Met has released this photo of Palestine Action protesters swarming Parliament Square during a protest this afternoon
Police officers stand guard in Parliament Square, on the day of a rally organised by the campaign group called 'Defend Our Juries'
A protester in Parliament Square in London is seen alongside police officers today
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Members of the Metropolitan Police gather in Parliament Square ahead of the 'Lift The Ban' demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action
LONDON: A man is dragged away by police officers during a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square on Saturday
LIVERPOOL: A Police officer tries to separate anti-immigration and pro-immigration protesters as they clash at a Defend Refugees: Stop the Far Right rally
NEWCASTLE: Police arrest a man as protesters converge near the New Bridge Hotel in Newcastle this afternoon
Martin Drummond, a 76-year-old retired research scientist from Norwich, was among the demonstrators in Parliament Square today.
He said he was prepared to be arrested as he was 'outraged' by the restriction on ‘free speech’ created by Palestine Action’s proscription.
He said: 'I'm here to protect our free speech - it's absolutely crucial. Our forefathers fought for free speech and I’m bloody well going to defend it.
He did say he was ‘unenthusiastic’ about the prospect of being detained by police, adding: 'I'd like to go home today. I'm not regarding it as a badge of honour. I have never supported anything like this before.'
Among counter-protesters was Jan Bowman, a 69-year-old illustrator from Scotland, who claimed a pro-Palestine activist tried to snatch an anti-Hamas placard she was carrying.
She said: 'It was just so childish. We have to stand up for free speech. They won’t allow it, they won’t debate.
'I'm a non Jewish supporter of Jewish people. I think Zionism is just the wish for Jewish people to have a homeland after centuries of persecution.'
Other major events in London this weekend include the Community Shield match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Wembley, which will require sizeable police resources.
Meanwhile, police up and down the country are also preparing for a series of anti-migrant protests - and counter-demonstrations by opposing campaigners - outside hotels and council offices including in Bristol and Nuneaton.
A woman is led away by police officers as supporters of Palestine Action take part in a mass action in Parliament Square
Protestors hold placards during the 'Lift The Ban' demonstration in Westminster today
Organisers tipped at least 500 people to turn up to Saturday's demo in Parliament Square
Protesters take part in the 'Defend Refugees, Stand Up To Facism' rally, organised by Stand Up to Racism, near the Mercure Brigstow Hotel in Bristol today
A hefty police presence is out in force amid the demonstrations in Bristol today
A counter demonstrator nearby as protesters take part in the 'Defend Refugees, Stand Up To Facism' rally, organised by Stand Up to Racism, in Bristol
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There had been particular concern about a protest planned in Nuneaton which comes amid claims Warwickshire Police held back information over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl.
People have started gathering at a protest outside the Town Hall in Nuneaton, waving Union flags and St George's Cross flags.
A speaker inside a van adorned with Union flag bunting is blasting music, including Rule Britannia and the national anthem.
A group of Stand Up to Racism counter-protesters have also gathered outside the Town Hall with yellow placards and a banner which read, 'Stop the far right'.
The two groups are being separated with police officers and police vehicles near the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council building, where protesters started chanting 'Who are you?' at the group of Stand Up To Racism demonstrators.
A woman could be heard saying to the anti-racism group, 'We are not neo-Nazis', while a Stand Up To Racism protester was holding a handwritten sign reading: 'Why do fascists only care about women when they can use our stories and pain to oppress others?'
A red and white sign in the crowd stated 'This is England', with another saying 'UK first' - while another banner saying 'What about our girls' human right to safety' was displayed near a protesters with Union flags.
Restrictions have also been put in place by police in at least 12 towns and cities - with rival demonstrations also seen taking place today outside migrant hotels in Bournemouth and Newcastle.
Protestors were today seen gather outside the Roundhouse Hotel in Bournemouth in response to its reported use to house migrants
A heavy police presence was put in action in Bournemouth in response to the demo
Demonstrators clad in Union Jack flags were seen on the streets in Bournemouth today
Counter-demonstrators with placards saying 'No to racism' also attended in Bournemouth
There was a large police presence in the centre of Bristol, as protest was advertised to take place in front of a hotel on Welsh Back, near Bristol Bridge.
A counter-protest, gathering from 11.30am, was also being organised and publicised, and police have obtained special powers in response.
Avon and Somerset police announced yesterday that they had obtained extra powers under two different sections of the Public Order Act.
The first is the creation of a Dispersal Zone - which covers a wide area of the city centre from Temple Meads to the western end of the Floating Harbour.
Police have the powers to order people to disperse or face arrest if they do not.
The second power is to require people to take off any face coverings they have, if asked by the police, and again face being detained if they refuse.
In London, the Met Police has also been bracing for protests outside hotels housing asylum seekers in Canary Wharf and Islington.
Mr Adelekan said ahead of today's activities: 'This is going to be a particularly busy few days in London with many simultaneous protests and events that will require a significant policing presence.'
Police officers in between counter protesters and an anti-immigration protest outside Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council in Warwickshire
Police officers are seen intervening between counter protesters and an anti-immigration protest outside Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, in Warwickshire, today
There have been concerns raised about planned protests in Nuneaton amid claims Warwickshire Police held back information over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl
Counter protesters take their positions in Nuneaton in response to an anti-immigration protest
Pro-Palestine campaigners are taking part in demonstrations across the country this weekend
These activists are in County Durham, in a picture shared by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Also taking part today are pro-Palestine campaigners seen here in the Welsh capital Cardiff
'I'm grateful not just to the Met officers who will be working incredibly hard over the coming days but to those colleagues from other forces who have been deployed to London to support us.'
Meanwhile, another group the Palestine Solidary Campaign has today shared images of pro-Palestine activists out in force across the country.
The group posted on X, formerly Twitter: 'People are starting to gather - all the war from Durham to Cardiff - ready to march for Palestine!'
Last week Palestine Action received permission to challenge its banning after the High Court ruled it had an arguable case.
The ban came after two military aircraft were vandalised at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire in June, causing damage worth £7million.
A judicial review will take place in November, with protests set to continue on a rolling basis until then.
A Home Office spokesperson today said: 'The Home Secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights.
'It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues.
The Government moved to ban Palestine Action after two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in June - an incident the group said it was behind
The aircraft at RAF Brize Norton that was vandalised after pro-Palestine supporters broke in
Palestine Action demonstrators may never be able to visit the US or work in education if they take part in this weekend's protest, the Met Police have warned (file photo)
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Britain braces for a weekend of protest anarchy with both Palestine Action and anti-migrant demos
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'Freedom to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy and we protect it fiercely.
'The decision to proscribe was based on strong security advice and the unanimous recommendation by the expert cross-government proscription review group.
'This followed serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage.
'It also followed an assessment from the joint terrorism assessment centre that Palestine Action prepares for terrorism, as well as worrying information referencing plans and ideas for further attacks, the details of which cannot yet be publicly reported due to ongoing legal proceedings.'
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