Police drew their batons as clashes erupted on Saturday during mass arrests at a demonstration against the banning of Palestine Action in London’s Parliament Square.
One demonstrator was seen with blood streaming down his face after he was held at the rally, where angry protesters told police to "pick a side, justice or genocide".
Organisers claim up to 1,500 people joined the action to defy the terror ban, describing it as “Labour’s Poll Tax moment”.
The Metropolitan Police said officers faced an “exceptional level of abuse” including punches, kicks, spitting and missiles as tensions boiled over at the protest, where more than 425 were arrested, including a number for assault.
Protesters were handing out pens and placards ahead of the mass action at 1pm, when they began writing messages of support for the direct-action group, which read: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
The square fell quiet before a mass round of applause rippled through the crowd followed by chants of “free Palestine”.
Arrests began shortly afterwards, with one man seen being wheeled away by police as the crowd chanted “shame on you”.
Tempers flared as some demonstrators remonstrated with police, shouting: “Met Police – pick a side, justice or genocide.”
Officers were seen forcing their way through crowds to haul away protesters. At one point several demonstrators fell over in a crush, while water has been thrown at officers.
Scores of City of London Police joined the policing operation, with eight police vans parked along Great George Street ready to take away those arrested.
In an announcement on X 12 minutes after the protest’s official start time, the Met said: “Officers have begun making arrests for expressing support for proscribed terror organisation Palestine Action at the protest organised by Defend Our Juries.”
By 9pm, the force confirmed they had arrested more than 425 people, with at least 25 arrested for assaults on police officers and other public order offences. However they said officers had been subjected to an “exceptional level of abuse including punches, kicks, spitting and objects being thrown, in addition to verbal abuse”.
“Any assaults against officers will not be tolerated and arrests have already been made,” they added in a post on X. “We will identify all those responsible and prosecute to the full extent of the law.”
Despite the clashes on streets nearby, Parliament Square green remained largely peaceful. Others being detained included a line of elderly protesters who sat silently holding placards as officers collected them one by one.
The arrests were met with chants from protesters, who said: “Met Police you can’t hide – you’re supporting genocide.”
Protester Mike Higgins, 62, who is blind and uses a wheelchair, joined the protest after making headlines last month as one of 522 people arrested at a previous demonstration.
He said: “What choice do I have? Nothing is being done about the genocide other than by us. And I’m a terrorist? That’s the joke of it.
“I’ve already been arrested under the Terrorism Act and I suspect I will be today. Of course I’ll keep coming back – what choice do I have?”
Families of Holocaust survivors unfurled a banner, reading: “Holocaust survivor descendants against genocide.”
Elsewhere in the square, dozens of doctors and healthcare staff in their scrubs also joined the demonstration.
In footage shared by organisers, Massive Attack musician Robert Del Naja was seen holding a sign saying “lift the ban”.
“I'm here to demand the government lift the ban on Palestine action and restore our democratic right to peacefully protest,” he said.
Defend Our Juries (DOJ) said the action was planned on condition of at least 1,000 people pledging support, but claimed hundreds more planned to take part, despite a number of organisers being arrested this week under terror laws.
A DOJ spokesperson claimed around 1,500 had the joined the action in Parliament Square on Saturday, with further protests planned in Scotland and Northern Ireland, adding: “This is becoming Labour’s Poll Tax moment.
“The resistance to this ridiculous ban keeps on growing exponentially. It is also bringing together social movements in common cause.”
Attendees were advised by organisers to refuse street bail, requiring more people to be taken into custody, and to go “floppy”, forcing officers to physically carry them away.
Kerry Moscogiuri, of human rights campaign group Amnesty International UK, said it was “shocking” to see people hauled from the street for holding up signs.
“When the government is arresting people under terrorism laws for sitting peacefully in protest, something is going very wrong here in the UK,” she said.
“It is genuinely shocking to see people being hauled from the streets of London by the police for peacefully holding up signs.
“Let’s be clear, it is disproportionate to the point of absurdity to treat people sitting peacefully in a group holding signs in support of Palestine Action as ‘terrorists’.”
The Met warned they have “no choice” but to arrest anyone showing support for a proscribed terrorist organisation in a statement on Friday.
Palestine Action was banned in July after the group claimed responsibility for a protest in which two Voyager planes were sprayed with red paint at RAF Brize Norton in June.
It means showing support for the direct-action group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The Home Office is set to appeal against the High Court ruling allowing Palestine Action’s co-founder Huda Ammori to proceed with a legal challenge over the ban.
