UK police arrested nearly 900 people in London during a protest supporting the banned group Palestine Action, one of the largest mass arrests in the capital’s recent history. The demonstration, organized by Defend Our Juries, saw hundreds detained under anti-terrorism laws for expressing support, raising concerns about civil liberties and government overreach.
On September 6, 2025, an estimated 1,400 protesters gathered in Parliament Square, holding signs that read ‘I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.’ London’s Metropolitan Police reported arresting 857 individuals for showing support for a proscribed organization and 33 others for offenses including assault on officers. Video footage verified by CNN showed officers drawing batons and engaging in struggles with demonstrators, while organizers claimed the protest was entirely peaceful and included diverse participants such as vicars, priests, war veterans, and descendants of Holocaust survivors.
Palestine Action is a UK-based activist group founded in 2020 by Huda Ammori and Richard Barnard to disrupt weapons manufacturers connected to Israel, such as Elbit Systems and UAV Tactical Systems. The group has engaged in actions like occupying factories, spray-painting property, and vandalizing military equipment, aiming to end global participation in what they describe as Israel’s genocidal regime. Their late June 2025 intrusion into RAF Brize Norton, where they damaged refueling planes, directly led to the government’s decision to proscribe them.
The UK government, under then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, banned Palestine Action in July 2025 under the Terrorism Act 2000, citing an assessment from the Joint Terrorism Assessment Centre that the group had crossed into sabotage. Cooper stated that Palestine Action is ‘not a non-violent organization’ and has a history of criminal damage, though evidence of weapons use or injuries has not been provided. The ban places the group on par with terrorist organizations like Hamas and carries severe penalties for support.
Criticism of the ban has been widespread. Amnesty International UK, which had observers at the protest, disputed police claims of violence and called the arrests a ‘shocking demonstration’ of how terrorism laws suppress free speech. United Nations human rights experts raised concerns in July about the ‘unjustified labelling of a political protest movement as terrorist,’ arguing that property damage without intent to harm should not be treated as terrorism.
Since the proscription, there have been numerous protests across the UK, with over 1,500 arrests reported. Many of those detained are elderly, with nearly half over 60 years old in previous arrests, highlighting the broad demographic support. The recent mass arrest in London is part of this ongoing wave, fueled by public opposition to the ban and concerns over human rights.
A judicial review is scheduled for November 2025 to assess the legality of the ban, with the High Court noting that it might disproportionately interfere with rights to expression and assembly. If the ban is upheld, it could set a precedent for targeting other activist groups, potentially chilling dissent in the UK. The outcome will be pivotal for the future of protest rights and civil liberties in the country.