Police arrest protesters supporting Palestine Action after group designated as terrorist organisation

Police have arrested a number of protesters supporting Palestine Action after a ban on the group came into effect.

The protest group was officially proscribed as a terrorist organisation from midnight on Saturday after a last-minute legal challenge to delay it failed.

The Metropolitan Police said on Saturday afternoon that officers were responding to the protest in London’s Parliament Square and making arrests.

“The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence,” the force added. “Arrests are being made.”

MPs overwhelmingly voted in favour of Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe the protest group under the Terrorism Act 2000 on Wednesday and Lords have approved the move.

The law change adds Palestine Action to the list of banned organisations along with the likes of al Qaeda, ISIS and Hezbollah, and makes membership of, or support for, the direct action group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Even wearing a T-shirt or badge with the group’s name on attracts a maximum six-month sentence.

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