4 hours ago
4
PA Media
Forty-two arrests have been made in London at a protest against Palestine Action being proscribed a terror group, the Metropolitan Police has said.
The force said 41 arrests were made on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation, with one person also arrested for common assault.
Palestine Action was proscribed by the government under the Terrorism Act 2000 as of last Saturday, meaning membership of or support for the group is a criminal offence.
Twenty-nine people were arrested at a similar protest in London last weekend.
Two groups of protesters were seen gathering in Parliament Square shortly after 13:00 BST on Saturday.
Some individuals were seen holding placards bearing the words: "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action."
Demonstrators were also seen lying on top of each other while police officers searched bags, taking ID cards and handmade signs.
Police were seen carrying some of the protesters away and led others into police vans - with the last protester being removed from the Nelson Mandela statue just after 14:30 BST.
The move to proscribe Palestine Action came after two Voyager aircraft were sprayed with paint by activists who broke into RAF Brize Norton in June - an incident for which the group claimed responsibility.
Campaign group Defend Our Juries, which said it had organised the London protest, said other demonstrations were happening in the UK today including in Manchester and Cardiff.
