A further 24 people have been charged with supporting the banned group Palestine Action. This brings the total number facing prosecution since the organisation was proscribed as a terrorist group in July to 138.
The latest charges come ahead of a planned protest on Saturday in London's Parliament Square. Organisers expect more than 1,000 people to gather, holding signs saying "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action".
Prosecution service response
Frank Ferguson from the Crown Prosecution Service said swift decisions continue to be made in all arrest cases. He confirmed more charges are expected in the coming weeks.
Ferguson emphasised that the public has a democratic right to protest peacefully, with thousands doing so regularly without breaking terrorism laws. However, he stressed that Palestine Action is now a proscribed terrorist organisation and supporters will face criminal proceedings under the Terrorism Act.
Warning about protest conduct
The prosecutor warned that when protest conduct crosses from lawful activity into criminality, authorities have a duty to enforce the law. He urged people to consider the real-life consequences of choosing to support Palestine Action.
Ferguson specifically addressed the weekend protest, saying: "People should consider the real-life consequences of choosing to support Palestine Action, and ahead of the weekend, we continue to urge people to think very carefully about their actions at protests."
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
