At least 90 people were arrested in central London on Saturday during a protest against the government's ban on Palestine Action. Metropolitan Police detained the activists in Tavistock Square's Peace Garden after they displayed placards stating "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action."
The mass arrests contrasted sharply with similar demonstrations in Northern Ireland the same day, where police made no detentions under terrorism legislation. In Belfast and Londonderry, activists held identical placards supporting the proscribed organisation, but officers only observed the events from a distance.
Police Service of Northern Ireland said they will now review evidence gathered at both locations and consider whether offences were committed. One arrest was made in Belfast on Castle Place for common assault, unrelated to terrorism laws.
Home Office Warning on Prevent Program
A Home Office official has raised concerns that the Palestine Action proscription could overwhelm Britain's anti-terrorism Prevent program. The official, who works in the Home Office's homeland security group, told The Guardian: «We have already seen police officers, let alone frontline Prevent practitioners, mistakenly arrest or interfere with people for supporting Palestine, not supporting Palestine Action.»
The official warned of confusion among counter-terrorism police, school and hospital staff about the ban. «There is a risk that what's now the crime of support for Palestine Action might lead to the Prevent system becoming an unwitting sort of gateway for people to mistakenly be criminalised, especially young people who don't know the law,» they said.
Prevent referrals have already reached their highest levels since records began, according to figures published earlier this month. The official said the program was under «unprecedented» pressure even before the Palestine Action ban.
Growing Number of Charges
The London arrests bring the total number of people charged in the capital for supporting Palestine Action to 254 since the group was proscribed in July. A further 120 people were notified of charges on Thursday. Counter Terrorism Policing London continues to investigate those detained.
The proscription followed an incident where protesters broke into RAF Brize Norton and spray-painted two RAF Voyager planes. The government classified Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act on July 5, making public support a criminal offence.
International Criticism
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the UK government's decision in July. He warned against expanding terrorism definitions beyond international standards, which focus on acts causing death or serious injury.
Türk said UK domestic counter-terrorism legislation defines terrorist acts broadly to include "serious damage to property". But he argued: «According to international standards, terrorist acts should be confined to criminal acts intended to cause death or serious injury or to the taking of hostages.»
A Home Office spokesperson declined to comment on "anonymous briefings" but clarified: «Supporting Palestine is not the same as supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation. There are many lawful ways to express support for Palestinian rights and sovereignty.»
A legal challenge against the proscription is scheduled to be heard next week.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
