More than 200 people have been arrested at a protest in Parliament Square in support of the banned group Palestine Action, the Metropolitan Police said.
Hundreds had descended on the square for the demonstration as part of a busy weekend of protests in the capital. The Met said it had drafted in officers from other forces to form a “significant policing presence” and warned it would arrest anyone expressing support for the proscribed group.
Clusters of officers were seen escorting protesters carrying placards backing Palestine Action through swelling crowds to waiting police vans on the edge of the square. Others were sat on the grass surrounded by officers, while one protester lay next to the fenced-off Emmeline Pankhurst statue as police attended to them.
“It will take time but we will arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action,” the force said in an update on X.
Membership of, or public support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Organisers Defend Our Juries said between 600 and 700 people were participating in the protest on Saturday afternoon.
The group, who organised the demonstration, claimed the Metropolitan Police were preparing for “the largest mass arrest in their history” after expecting a turnout “in the low hundreds”.
Two other marches are also taking place in central London this weekend — one by the Palestine Coalition from Russell Square to Whitehall, followed by speeches, and another by pro-Israeli group Stop the Hate on Sunday.
Follow the latest updates below.
Scotland Yard respond to Palestine Action protest organisers
16:26 , Bill BowkettThe Metropolitan Police said: “We’re aware of a statement by Defend our Juries [the organisers of today’s protest] claiming we were only able to arrest ‘a fraction’ of those breaking the law in Parliament Square this afternoon.
“That claim simply isn’t true.
“We estimate there were around 500 to 600 people in Parliament Square when the protest began, but many were onlookers, media or people not holding placards in support of Palestine Action.”
They added: “After arrest, they were taken to Prisoner Processing Points in the Westminster area. Those whose details could be confirmed were bailed, with conditions not to attend any further protest in support of Palestine Action.
“Those whose details were refused or could not be verified were taken to custody suites across London.”
Disabled blind man arrested
15:42 , Bill BowkettBREAKING: Met police arrest a disabled blind man at the Parliament Square protest, where many hundreds are holding placards which say "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action" pic.twitter.com/RABO0ID78g
— Defend our Juries (@DefendourJuries) August 9, 2025
Demonstration 'embarrassment to Yvette Cooper'
15:33 , Bill BowkettA spokesman for Defend Our Juries, which organised today’s protest, said: “The police have only been able to arrest a fraction of those supposedly committing ‘terrorism’ offences, and most of those have been given street bail and allowed to go home.
“This is a major embarrassment to Yvette Cooper, further undermining the credibility of this widely ridiculed law, brought in to punish those exposing the government’s own crimes.
“We will keep going for as long as the Government tries to silence those exposing its complicity in war crimes. Our numbers are already growing for the next wave of action in September.”
Palestine Action adverts displayed at bus stop
14:55 , Bill BowkettActivists from Grenepeace have rebranded bus stops across the capital with posters reading “Protesting genocide is not terrorism.”
Activists from @greenpeaceuk have rebranded bus stops across London with posters reading “Protesting genocide is not terrorism.”
— Novara Media (@novaramedia) August 9, 2025
More than 500 people have pledged to hold “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” signs today in central London, as part of a campaign to end… pic.twitter.com/l8MxJDd4Jo
Former Guantanamo Bay detainee 'detained by police'
14:53 , Bill BowkettFormer Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg appears to have been detained by Metropolitan Police officers during the protest in defence of Palestine Action.
The 57-year-old was handed to the United States by Pakistan two decades ago after he was accused of being involved with al-Qaeda.
BREAKING: police have arrested Moazzam Begg for opposing the Palestine Action.
— Socialist Worker (@socialistworker) August 9, 2025
A Labour government locked him up in Guantanamo Bay.
Now another Labour government wants to lock him up for saying “protest is not terrorism”.
Eternal shame on the British state pic.twitter.com/xpnoSUrmLK
However, he was released from custody in 2005 following pressure from the UK, but later received a settlement after suing British authorities for alleged complicity in his detention at the Cuban military base.
He walked free from HMP Belmarsh in 2014 after several terrorism-related charges against him were dropped when it emerged that security services had known of and consented to his travel to Syria during the civil war.
Begg was also outreach director of the controversial campaign group CAGE, which previously described one of its former clients Mohamed Emwazi, known as Islamic State extremist Jihadi John, as an "extremely kind" and "beautiful young man".
Protesters cheer at end of allocated protest time as crowds thin
14:38 , Bill BowkettProtesters cheered at 2pm — the end of the allocated protest time — as Metropolitan Police officers were physically unable to arrest all those by Parliament Square.
However, crowds are now starting to thin out around Westminster. Scotland Yard previously said the assembly must conclude by 5.30pm.
More than 50 arrested at Palestine Action protest
14:02 , Sami QuadriMore than 50 arrests have been made at the protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square so far, the Metropolitan Police said.
In an update posted on X, the force added: “It will take time but we will arrest anyone expressing support for Palestine Action.”
Up to 700 at Parliament Square protest backing banned Palestine Action
13:56 , Sami QuadriDefend Our Juries said between 600 and 700 people were participating in the protest supporting the banned Palestine Action in Parliament Square.
The group, who organised the demonstration, claimed the Metropolitan Police were preparing for “the largest mass arrest in their history” after expecting a turnout “in the low hundreds”.
Pictured: Supporters of Palestine Action take part in a mass protest in Parliament Square
13:34 , Sami Quadri.jpg)
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Arrests as protesters hold placards in support of banned Palestine Action
13:30 , Sami QuadriMetropolitan Police officers began arresting protesters in Parliament Square holding placards supporting the proscribed Palestine Action group.
Clusters of officers could be seen holding individual protesters sat on the edge of the grass and escorting them through swelling crowds to police vans on the edge of the square.
A separate group of officers could be seen attending to a protester lying next to the fenced-off Emmeline Pankhurst statue.
The main, larger group of protesters in the middle of the central London square remained sat quietly holding their placards.
Protesters gather in Parliament Square to show support for banned group Palestine Action
13:18 , Sami QuadriA large group of protesters have gathered in central London to show support for the banned Palestine Action.
The crowd, sat on the grass inside Parliament Square, could be seen writing “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action” on white placards at 1pm, with the vast majority remaining silent.
Several demonstrators carrying placards that read “Palestine Action terrorises Britain while Hamas hides in hospitals, schools and mosques”, briefly walked along the crowd before being led away by Metropolitan Police officers.
Other clusters of protesters who wree not holding placards gathered around the Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela statues in the square singing pro-Palestinian chants.
Organisers Defend Our Juries previously said more than 500 people would be participating in the protest.
Arrests made in Parliament Square as protesters express support for Palestine Action
13:09 , Sami QuadriThis is the scene in Parliament Square. Within this crowd a significant number of people are displaying placards expressing support for Palestine Action, which is a proscribed group.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) August 9, 2025
Officers have moved in and are making arrests. pic.twitter.com/rehJoJcAg7
A man is detained by police officers as supporters of Palestine Action take part in a mass action in Parliament Square
13:08 , Sami Quadri
Protest and counter-demo outside Nuneaton Town Hall over alleged child rape case
12:38 , Sami QuadriSeveral other protests are taking place across the UK today in addition to the planned Palestine Action demonstration in Parliament Square.
In Nuneaton, Warwickshire, people have gathered outside the Town Hall waving Union flags and St George’s Cross flags. A speaker in a van decorated with Union flag bunting is playing music including Rule Britannia and the national anthem.
The protest was organised in response to two men, reportedly Afghan asylum seekers, being charged over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in the town.
A Stand Up to Racism counter-protest has also formed outside the Town Hall, with activists holding yellow placards and a banner reading “Stop the far right”.
Police officers and vehicles are keeping the two groups apart outside the Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council building.
Activists gather in central London ahead of pro-Palestine march
12:09 , Sami QuadriPeople are starting to gather - all the way from Durham to Cardiff - ready to march for Palestine! 🇵🇸@CardiffPSC @CountyDurhamPSC pic.twitter.com/3Kow0kkhwB
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) August 9, 2025
Home Office defends Palestine Action ban
11:18 , Sami QuadriThe Home Office has defended its decision to ban Palestine Action, saying the move is “not about Palestine” and does not affect the right to protest on Palestinian rights.
A Home Office spokesperson 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.
“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.”
Three charged with supporting banned group Palestine Action ahead of London protest
09:22 , Sami QuadriEarlier this week, two women and a man were charged with showing support for the proscribed terror group Palestine Action following a protest in central London.
Jeremy Shippam, 71, of West Sussex, Judit Murray, 71, of Surrey, and Fiona Maclean, 53, of Hackney are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 September, the Metropolitan Police said.
The trio were arrested at a protest in Westminster on 5 July.
Supporting Palestine Action is a criminal offence, with membership or expressing support for the group punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The charges – the first in England and Wales – come ahead of a planned protest in support of the group on Saturday afternoon in London’s Parliament Square, which organisers say could draw more than 500 people.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said of Thursday’s arrests: “We are also planning to send case files to the Crown Prosecution Service for the other 26 people arrested on the same day.
“I would strongly advise anyone planning to come to London this weekend to show support for Palestine Action to think about the potential criminal consequences of their actions.”
Met sets strict public order conditions for London march
08:44 , Sami QuadriPublic 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.
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.
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.”
“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,” Mr Adelekan said.
“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.”
Protesters to march from Russell Square to Downing Street over Gaza crisis
08:19 , Sami Quadri🚨 TOMORROW - National March for Palestine - Stop Starving Gaza
— Palestine Solidarity Campaign (@PSCupdates) August 8, 2025
⏰ 9 August, 12PM
📍 Russell Square to Downing Street
Israel is starving the Palestinian people in Gaza to death. Our government must take action to end Israel’s genocide. Join us as part of our Summer of Action for… pic.twitter.com/dFFn0ifGHe
What is Palestine Action?
08:03 , Sami QuadriPalestine Action is a protest network founded in the UK in 2020 that targets companies it accuses of supporting Israel’s military operations. Its activists are best known for direct action tactics such as occupying factories, vandalising buildings, and staging blockades, often focusing on sites linked to Elbit Systems — Israel’s largest arms manufacturer.
The group says its aim is to shut down the UK’s “complicity” in what it calls Israeli “apartheid” and human rights abuses against Palestinians. Supporters view its actions as civil disobedience, while critics — including the UK Government — describe them as disruptive and sometimes criminal.
In July 2025, Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000. This means that membership of, or public support for, the group is now a criminal offence, carrying a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.
The government said the ban was necessary due to the group’s “campaign of criminal damage and intimidation”, while Palestine Action accused ministers of attempting to silence legitimate protest.
Met ‘ready to respond’ to busy weekend of protests as regional officers drafted
07:49 , Sami QuadriThe Metropolitan Police will deploy officers from other regions to form a “significant policing presence” in London as it gears up for a busy weekend of protests.
A senior officer admitted the scale of the demonstrations – including one protest of more than 500 people supporting the banned Palestine Action on Saturday – would put pressure on the force, but that it would be equipped “to respond to any eventuality”.
It comes after the force announced the first three people had been charged with supporting the group, now designated a terror organisation, in England and Wales on Thursday.
Other major events including the Community Shield match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Wembley are taking place and will require sizeable police resources.
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.
A number of local protests in Tower Hamlets, Putney and Westminster opposing the continued Israeli military action in Gaza will be policed on Friday evening, while officers will also be deployed in the vicinity of hotels housing asylum seekers in Islington and in Canary Wharf.
