Ninety-six arrests at Palestine Action ban protests across UK

Alex Boyd & Ewan SomervilleBBC NewsNick JohnsonBBC Information, reporting from WestminsterBBCPolice made greater than 50 arrests in Parliament Sq. in central LondonNearly 100 individuals have been arrested at protests throughout the UK in opposition to the choice to proscribe Palestine Motion as a terror group.Demonstrations in assist of the pro-Palestine activist group happened in London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol and Truro on Saturday.The Met Police mentioned 55 individuals have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences for displaying placards in assist of Palestine Motion, on the largest of the demonstrations in Westminster.The federal government proscribed the group earlier this month underneath the Terrorism Act of 2000, making membership of or assist for the group a legal offence, following a break-in at an RAF base.Throughout the nation, protesters held placards with the phrases: “I oppose genocide. I assist Palestine Motion.”In London, arrests have been made close to the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Sq., the place as many as 20 police vans attended.Officers moved in swiftly to arrest these holding the placards, lots of whom gave the impression to be over the age of 60.One girl claimed to be in her 80s and was strolling with a stick. Some have been led away whereas others needed to be carried.Avon and Somerset Police mentioned 17 individuals have been arrested underneath the Terrorism Act after an illustration on School Inexperienced in Bristol.It mentioned an additional three individuals could be invited to attend a voluntary interview at a future date.Devon and Cornwall Police mentioned two males and 6 girls have been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after protesters gathered close to Truro Cathedral. The drive mentioned round 30 individuals have been concerned within the peaceable demonstration, organised by marketing campaign group Defend Our Juries.Earlier, the marketing campaign group mentioned that a type of arrested close to the cathedral was an 81-year-old former Justice of the Peace.EPASome demonstrators in London have been led away whereas others needed to be carried by officersGreater Manchester Police mentioned it arrested 16 individuals on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation, and that they remained in custody for questioning. Police Scotland mentioned officers in Edinburgh attended after the drive was made conscious of photos on-line displaying individuals holding placards in assist of Palestine Motion in Edinburgh’s Parliament Sq. space.Nevertheless, a spokesperson mentioned no arrests have been made because the protesters had gone by the point officers arrived. Enquiries are ongoing.There have been additionally no arrests at a separate pro-Palestinian protest within the metropolis, the drive added.Individually, a march organised by the Palestine Coalition happened in London on Saturday.The Met mentioned 10 individuals had been arrested up to now at that demonstration, together with eight suspected of supporting Palestine Motion.Saturday’s protests got here forward of a Excessive Courtroom listening to on Monday at which the co-founder of Palestine Motion, Huda Ammori, will ask for permission to problem the choice to ban the group.Final Saturday, 71 arrests have been made throughout the UK at comparable protests in opposition to the choice.Palestine Motion has engaged in actions which have predominantly focused arms firms because the begin of the present struggle in Gaza.MPs voted to proscribe the group after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton in June, spraying two Voyager plane with crimson paint and inflicting £7m value of harm. Palestine Motion took accountability for the incident on the time.4 individuals have since been remanded in custody, charged with conspiracy to commit legal harm and conspiracy to enter a prohibited place knowingly for a objective prejudicial to the security or pursuits of the UK.The incident additionally prompted a safety evaluation throughout all UK army bases.