More Than 70 Arrested At U.k. Protests In Support Of Banned Group Palestine Action

4 days ago

More than 70 group were arrested Saturday astatine protests successful nan U.K. against nan Palestine Action group being proscribed a violent statement by nan British authorities pursuing a break-in and vandalism astatine a Royal Air Force base.

In London, nan Metropolitan Police said 42 group had been arrested by precocious afternoon. All but 1 of nan arrests were for showing support for a proscribed organization, which constabulary person said includes chanting, wearing clothing aliases displaying articles specified arsenic flags, signs aliases logos. Another personification was arrested for communal assault.

A further 16 arrests were made successful Manchester, according to Greater Manchester Police, while South Wales Police said 13 group were besides held successful Cardiff.

In London, it was nan 2nd consecutive week protesters gathered to support nan pro-Palestinian activistic group. Its outlawing has meant support for nan statement is deemed a criminal offense. Police arrested 29 group astatine a akin protestation past weekend.

Two groups gathered underneath some nan statues of Indian independency leader Mahatma Gandhi and South Africa’s first post-apartheid president, Nelson Mandela, successful Parliament Square.

Signs pinch nan wording “I reason genocide, I support Palestine Action,” were held aloft successful soundlessness arsenic nan protesters were surrounded by constabulary officers and members of nan media.

Some demonstrators could beryllium seen lying connected apical of each different connected nan crushed arsenic constabulary searched their bags and took distant signs.

Officers could past beryllium seen carrying distant a number of protesters who were lying down, lifting them disconnected nan crushed and into waiting constabulary vans parked astir nan square.

The charismatic nickname earlier this period of Palestine Action arsenic a proscribed group nether nan Terrorism Act 2000 intends that rank successful nan group and support for its actions are punishable by up to 14 years successful prison.

Some 81 organizations are already proscribed nether nan U.K. act, including nan militant groups Hamas and al-Qaida.

The authorities moved to prohibition Palestine Action aft activists collapsed into a Royal Air Force guidelines successful Brize Norton successful Oxfordshire, England, connected June 20, damaging 2 planes utilizing reddish overgarment and crowbars successful protestation astatine nan British government’s ongoing subject support for Israel successful its warfare successful Gaza.

Police said that nan incident caused astir $9.4 cardinal of damage.

Four group betwixt 22 and 35 years aged were charged pinch conspiracy to perpetrate criminal harm and conspiracy to participate a prohibited spot for purposes prejudicial to nan interests of nan U.K. The 4 are scheduled to look connected July 18 astatine nan Central Criminal Court successful London, amended known arsenic nan Old Bailey.