Hundreds of Palestine Action supporters protested in Trafalgar Square today as the Home Secretary unveiled plans to proscribe it a terrorist organisation.
Yvette Cooper announced the ban after two of the group’s members vandalised planes at an RAF base last week.
Protesters chanted “Stop bombing now” and “We are all Palestine Action”, as they waved Palestinian flags and held banners which read “Defend the right to protest, drop the charges”.
Met Police said 13 people were arrested over the course of the day.
Before the protest, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he was “shocked and frustrated” that a demonstration supporting the “organised extremist criminal group” was going ahead.
Read our full coverage below...
Coverage ends
19:08 , Matt WattsThat ends our coverage of today’s Palestine Action protest.
'We aren't terrorists' says protester
19:00 , Matt WattsEunice, a 20-year-old university student spoke to the Standard about his response to Palestine Action being labelled as a terrorist group.
He said: “Terrorism is just a term that is used politically, where if the British government is against the sort of action (a group takes), they’re a terrorist organisation.
He said: “These people came out here to show their love and solidarity to the people of Palestine.”
Moment police and Pro-Palestine protesters clash in Trafalgar Square
17:17 , Jacob PhillipsTensions were high as clashes broke out on several occasions between protesters and police during today’s protests in Trafalgar Square.
At one stage, shortly after a demonstrator was surrounded by police, one officer appeared to punch a protester in the face.
Moments later, other protesters can be heard shouting at police “is this what you signed up for” and accusing them of breaking the law.
Crowds surrounded police officers, shouting “shame” multiple times as protesters were stopped and searched at the scene.
Palestine Action respond to Yvette Cooper
17:06Palestine Action have released a statement in response to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s announcement that the group will be proscribed as a terrorist organisation next week.
A spokesperson for the group said: “This is an unhinged reaction to an action spraying paint in protest [to] the UK government arming Israel's slaughter of the Palestinian people. The real crime here is not red paint being sprayed on these war planes, but the war crimes that have been enabled with those planes because of the UK Government's complicity in Israel's genocide.
“It also smacks of rank hypocrisy from Keir Starmer, who rightly defended protesters who broke into an RAF base in 2003 to stop US bombers heading to Iraq, with Starmer asserting that this protest [w]as lawful because their intention was to prevent war crimes He is now cowing down to the pro-Israel groups and the private arms companies who have been lobbying [the] government to stop Palestine Action because we have successfully hit the profits of these blood-soaked companies and disrupted Israel's war machine…
“It is plainly preposterous to rank us with terrorist groups like ISIS, National Action and Boko Haram and the former police and everyone from the former Tory Policing Minister Chris Philp to the former Labour Justice Minister Lord Falconer have said… proscribing Palestine Action is not justified…
“We have a long, proud history of direct action in this country, from the suffragettes to Nelson Mandela and others, who were called 'terrorists' at the time.
“The Home Secretary's statement makes a series of categorically false claims which have been made by the pro-Israel groups which lobbied the government to proscribe us. We have instructed lawyers who are pursuing all avenues for legal challenge.”
Thirteen arrested at Palestine Action protest
16:35 , Alastair LockhartThe Metropolitan Police has said 13 arrests were made at today’s demonstration.
Six people were arrested for assaulting an emergency worker at the protest, while one person was held on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence after they were heard shouting “racial abuse” towards the protest, the force said.
Four people who refused to disperse from the protest at the imposed 3pm cut-off were arrested for breaching Public Order Act conditions, and two more individuals were held for obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty.
A Met spokesperson said: “While the protest initially began in a peaceful manner, officers faced violence when they went into the crowd to speak to three individuals whose behaviour was arousing suspicion.
“This sequence of events repeated itself on multiple occasions, with officers being surrounded on each occasion they tried to deal with an incident.”
Police arrest protesters who refuse to leave
15:37 , Megan HoweMet Police said it has arrested a number of people who refused to leave the area this afternoon.
A spokesperson for Met Police said: “The conditions in place required this protest to end at 3pm but crowds remained in the road.
“Officers moved in to give final warnings and a number of people who refused to leave were arrested. The road is now clear.”
In pictures: Police remove protesters taking part in the demonstration today
15:29 , Megan Howe
Protest begins to quieten down
15:10 , Jacob PhillipsProtests are beginning to quieten down in Trafalgar Square.
One protester remains sat in the road blocking part of the street.
The majority of the crowd has now cleared with just a handful of flags remaining at the side of the square.
Ugly scenes as tensions boil over and more protesters are detained
14:42
Protesters ordered to move out of the road
14:35 , Megan HoweProtesters are blocking the road at the junction of Charing Cross Road and Duncannon Street, Met Police said.
Public Order Act conditions have been imposed requiring them to move out of the road and onto the North Terrace of Trafalgar Square.
Holocaust survivor rejects move to ban Palestine Action
14:28 , Jacob Phillips
A Holocaust survivor was among those gathered in Trafalgar Square to protest against Palestine Action becoming proscribed.
Stephen Kapos, 87, was forced to live under the Nazis in Budapest, Hungary after it was invaded and was made to wear a yellow star when he was a child.
He explained he eventually went into hiding and used false papers.
He told the Standard: “I am here because I am a supporter of the cause of Palestine and against the genocide in Gaza.
“Some of the most heroic protests have been by Palestine Action, though sometimes what they do comes under civil disobedience.
“I don’t think that they as an organisation should be banned. Their action is always against those who are perpetrating illegal war crimes, like in Gaza.
“The process is such there is no immediate appeal against [Palestine Action being proscribed] it’s only after it has been done.”
What does proscribing an organisation mean and how is it done?
14:15 , Rachael BurfordYvette Cooper is facing a political backlash after announcing plans to proscribe Palestine Action.
The Home Secretary has the power to proscribe an organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000 if she believes it is “concerned in terrorism”.
Ms Cooper must first lay a draft order in Parliament for it to be debated and voted on by both MPs and Lords.
If passed, it will become illegal to be a member of, or invite support for, Palestine Action.
It means the group will join 81 others in being effectively banned in the UK, including the likes of Hamas and al Qaida, the far-right National Action and Russian private military the Wagner Group.
Being a member will carry a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison.
Labour peer and former shadow attorney general Baroness Shami Chakrabarti has criticised the plan saying “to proscribe Palestine Action on the information that we have all seen, I think would be a new departure”.
“It is one thing to be a threat to property, to be a nuisance, to be prosecuted and in some cases even imprisoned for those criminal offences, but it's another thing altogether to proscribe a whole group, and that means anybody fairly vaguely associated with it, to ban them (as) terrorists,” she told the BBC.
Protesters react to planned Palestine Action ban
14:01 , Jacob Phillips
Protesters have learnt about the Home Secretary’s plans to proscribe Palestine Action at the Trafalgar Square demonstration.
Dr Vanessa Crawford told the Standard “we immediately changed the definition of terrorism” minutes after Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced Palestine Action would be banned as a terrorist group.
The 61-year-old said: “We immediately change the definition of terrorism to mean humanitarianism.
“A group with humanity trying to stop the killing of children. If that’s what a terrorist is, then we are all terrorists here.
“The absurdity of calling people terrorists who are the very people who are trying to stop babies, children, adults being murdered in a genocide isn’t something I can sit at home and accept.
“It’s utterly absurd. We will carry on.”
Cooper blasts Palestine Action's 'disgraceful attack'
13:50
Ms Cooper confirmed the move after Palestine Action vandalised two planes inside RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on Friday.
The incident is being investigated by counter-terror police.
The ban under terror laws will make it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group, and will be punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
A draft order will be laid in Parliament next Monday.
Ms Cooper said in a written ministerial statement: "The disgraceful attack on Brize Norton in the early hours of the morning on Friday 20 June is the latest in a long history of unacceptable criminal damage committed by Palestine Action.
"The UK's defence enterprise is vital to the nation's national security and this Government will not tolerate those that put that security at risk."
Vote on proscribing Palestine Action set for next week
13:35 , Alastair LockhartHome Secretary Yvette Cooper said she has decided to proscribe Palestine Action and will lay an order before Parliament next week which, if passed, will make membership and support for the protest group illegal.
Protester explains how she was stopped and searched by police
13:34 , Megan HoweProtester Shameen Suleman was one of the hundreds gathered in Trafalgar Square on Monday.
She told the Standard: “I’m here for freedom of speech. How can you proscribe a grass roots movement?
“We all have a choice to support what we want to. We choose to support Palestine.
“I’ve been raided. I’ve been stopped and searched under the terrorism act.”
The protester explained that police had searched her home a few weeks ago and searched through her possessions, including some belonging to her dead mother.
She continued: “The police are terrorising us… We are all Palestine Action.”
In pictures: Protesters clash with police
13:29 , Alastair Lockhart
Three arrested at Palestine Action protest
13:22 , Megan HoweThree people have been arrested at the Palestine Action protest taking place this afternoon.
“Officers entered the crowd to speak to three people but were surrounded by other protesters, some of whom used force to attempt to free those being detained,” Met Police said.
“Two were arrested for obstruction. A third arrest was made earlier for a racially aggravated public order offence.”
Officers entered the crowd to speak to three people but were surrounded by other protesters, some of whom used force to attempt to free those being detained.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 23, 2025
Two were arrested for obstruction. A third arrest was made earlier for a racially aggravated public order offence.
Larger than normal police presence outside Parliament
13:18 , Megan HoweThere is a larger than normal police presence in the roads around Parliament with police vans lining Whitehall in anticipation of protesters making their way down from Trafalgar Square.
Protester appears to be searched by police amid chants of 'let them go'
13:06 , Jacob PhillipsA protester has been released after appearing to be searched by police.
Chants of “let them go” broke out as police dragged a protester from Trafalgar Square.
He was then held for a short period before leaving the area.
The protest split up as hundreds remained on the road in Trafalgar Square while others gathered and filmed police officers holding protesters.
Met Police present to 'ensure protest takes place safely'
12:45 , Megan HoweThe Palestine Action protest is taking place at Trafalgar Square following the imposition of conditions around Parliament Square and Whitehall.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 23, 2025
Officers are present to ensure it takes place safely and to deal with any offences. pic.twitter.com/m2YFU2ma6o
Protesters chant 'stop the bombing now!'
12:41 , Megan Howe“We are the people, we won’t be silenced, stop the bombing, now, now, now” is ringing out across Trafalgar Square as several hundred protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square by the National Gallery.
Signs were spotted saying “Defend the right to protest, drop the charges” as well as “Free Palestine” and “Proscribe the real terrorist in the UK government, hands off Palestine Action”.
Pro-Palestine protesters were also heard chanting “Stop bombing now” and “We are all Palestine Action”.
There is a small police presence in Trafalgar Square, with officers mostly stopping the protest from spilling out into the road.”
Protester 'alarmed' at Government wanting to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group
12:32 , Megan HoweOne protester in Trafalgar Square told the Standard they were disappointed in the Government’s stance on Palestine Action.
Neil Sammonds, 55, said: “I’m alarmed that the government wants to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group when if anything it should be doing that to the state of Israel and organisations that support it.
The Brixton resident added: “We have seen at a number of our protests there has been excessive force.”
He explained he knew a number of members of Palestine Action and described them as “people like you and me”.
He added: “Many of them are young people doing their studies. I think [most people] agree our movement isn’t an extreme position.”
Palestine Action protest LIVE: Supporters of soon-to-be 'terror' group gather at Trafalgar Square
12:29 , Megan HoweProtesters squeezed on the edge of Trafalgar Square
12:18 , Jacob PhillipsPro-Palestine protesters are currently gathering in Trafalgar Square. But protesters have found themselves squeezed on the edge of the square as scaffolding is still being taken down from West End Live at the weekend.
In pictures: Protesters gather at Trafalgar Square despite barriers
12:10 , Megan HoweProtesters have been gathering at Trafalgar Square despite barriers still in place following West End live this weekend.
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Trafalgar Square sealed off as planned protest set to begin
12:01 , Megan HoweTrafalgar Square appears to be sealed off this morning, as images show events staff taking down staging from West End Live which took place over the weekend.
ITV’s Paul Brand wrote on X: “Some confusion at Trafalgar Square where Palestine Action are due to protest at 12pm after being moved from outside Parliament.
“But it is currently sealed off while they take down staging from events over the weekend.
“They won’t be able to get in”, a contractor tells me.”
Some confusion at Trafalgar Square where Palestine Action are due to protest at 12pm after being moved from outside Parliament.
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) June 23, 2025
But it is currently sealed off while they take down staging from events over the weekend.
“They won’t be able to get in”, a contractor tells me. pic.twitter.com/EHNWDzwYoE
What is the definition of terrorism under UK law?
11:53 , Megan HoweUnder UK law, terrorism is defined in the Terrorism Act 2000 as “serious” violence against a person; “serious” damage to property; endangering a person's life; creating a serious risk to the health or safety of the public and action designed to seriously interfere with or to disrupt an electronic system.
These actions must be one of the following:
• Designed to influence the government, or an international governmental organisation
• Designed to intimidate the public
• The use or threat must be for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause
It is likely Cooper will argue that Palestine Action's breaking into an RAF base and damaging British planes amounts to serious damage to property designed to influence the Government's position on Gaza.
Labour peer says banning Palestine Action may be an "escalation too far"
11:37 , Megan HoweBaroness Shami Chakrabarti, a former shadow attorney general, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that it is “one thing” to be a threat to property, or to be a nuisance, but it is “another thing altogether” for a whole group to be proscribed as terrorists.
Chakrabarti said: "From what I can tell, this is a militant protest group that engages in direct action and that includes criminality, no question.
“But to elevate that to terrorism so anybody who attends a meeting, or who promotes the organisation, or is loosely affiliated with it, is branded a terrorist – that is a serious escalation I think. “
Rachel Reeves says Palestine Action's vandalism was 'totally unacceptable'
11:24 , Megan HoweRachel Reeves has said Palestine Action's vandalism of RAF jets last week was "totally unacceptable", but declined to say whether the Metropolitan Police should have the power to ban a demonstration by the group.
Asked whether Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley should be able to ban Monday's demonstration, the Chancellor told broadcasters: "What I would say about Palestine Action is that their behaviours in the last few weeks, and particularly in the last few days, are totally unacceptable.
"To cause damage to military assets, but also to cause such damage to privately-owned assets, it is unacceptable whatever your views are on what's happening in the Middle East.
"These actions are unacceptable and the Home Secretary will be making a statement to Parliament later today."
What has Met Police said about the planned protest?
11:11Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said last night he was “shocked and frustrated” at a planned protest in support of Palestine Action.
He referred to Palestine Action as an “organised extremist criminal group”, but said until the group is proscribed, the Met has no legal power to prevent the protest from taking place.
“The right to protest is essential and we will always defend it, but actions in support of such a group go beyond what most would see as legitimate protest,” Sir Mark Rowley said in a statement.
“Thousands of people attend protests of a different character every week without clashing with the law or with the police. The criminal charges faced by Palestine Action members, in contrast, represent a form of extremism that I believe the overwhelming majority of the public rejects.”
Met Police has put conditions in place for the protest today.
“Breaches of the law will be dealt with robustly,” Sir Mark Rowley added.
Why is the Government planning to ban Palestine Action?
11:01 , Megan HoweHome Secretary Yvette Cooper will update Parliament on the government’s plans to ban Palestine Action later today.
It comes after Palestine Action activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and sprayed two planes with red paint.
The incident was branded "disgraceful" by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
A spokesperson for Palestine Action accused the UK of failing to meet its obligation to prevent or punish genocide.
When is the protest taking place?
10:54 , Megan HoweA planned Palestine Action protest is taking place today from 12pm at Trafalgar Square.
The protest was originally set to take place outside Westminster, but Met Police has banned it from taking place there and have set up an exclusion zone.
Police said yesterday that Public Order Act conditions have been imposed on the protest.
It must not begin before midday and must end by 3pm.
It cannot take place within the exclusion zone shown in blue on the map.
Good morning
10:47 , Megan HoweGood morning and welcome to The Standard’s live blog on the Palestine Action protest set to take place in central London today.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to update Parliament today on the Government’s plan to ban Palestine Action.
This would effectively see them treated as a terror group.
The planned protest is supported by 35 groups including the Stop the War Coalition, Cage and Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND).
