LONDON — 7 September 2025. The Metropolitan Police arrested 890 people during a demonstration near Parliament on Saturday, the largest number of detentions at a single event since the proscription of the campaign group Palestine Action in July.
Of those held, 857 were arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000; a further 33 were arrested for other offences, including 17 for assaults on police officers.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Claire Smart, who led the policing operation, said a subset of protesters had been “intent on creating as much disorder as possible”, and praised officers’ “professionalism” in the face of abuse. She contrasted the event with a separate Palestine Coalition march attended by around 20,000 people that proceeded without major incident.
Organisers of Saturday’s sit-down protest, the group Defend Our Juries, said those detained included clergy, war veterans and healthcare workers, with many older and some disabled participants among those arrested. A spokesperson said the “mass acts of defiance will continue until the ban is lifted.”
The Home Office moved to proscribe Palestine Action in July following an incident at RAF Brize Norton and earlier actions targeting defence companies. In a written statement to Parliament on 23 June, the Home Secretary said the decision was taken under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000, with the proscription order laid on 30 June and subsequently approved. Supporting or belonging to a proscribed organisation carries a maximum penalty of up to 14 years’ imprisonment.
Police said all those arrested on Saturday were processed at a dedicated prisoner reception point in Westminster or transported to Met custody suites. Of the 857 held for terrorism offences, 341 were handled at the reception site and 519 were taken to custody; those whose identities were verified were released on bail to attend a police station at a later date. The Met’s Counter Terrorism Command is leading further inquiries.
Ministers urged demonstrators not to link their protests to support for Palestine Action. Defence Secretary John Healey said people had the right to voice concern about events in Gaza but “that does not require them to link it to support for Palestine Action, a proscribed group.” His comments followed a succession of weekly protests in which large numbers have been detained under terrorism legislation.
Human rights organisations and UN experts have criticised the proscription as disproportionate and warned of a chilling effect on lawful protest. A statement by UN human rights experts in July said the use of terrorism powers against a protest group “raises serious concerns” about freedom of expression and assembly. The Government has defended the measure as necessary to address escalating criminal damage and threats to national security.
Saturday’s demonstration forms part of a campaign branded “Lift the Ban” by Defend Our Juries, which has organised regular actions since the proscription took effect. Police made more than 400 arrests at a similar action in Westminster on 9 August, and have continued to warn that displays of support for a proscribed organisation will lead to detention.
Palestine Action has said it will challenge the proscription in court. A preliminary hearing in the High Court has been scheduled this month, according to agencies reporting on related proceedings. The Home Office has indicated it will contest any appeal against the ban.
As of Sunday, many of those arrested in recent weeks have been released on police bail. The number of detainees still in custody remained unclear. The Met reiterated that its duty is to enforce the law “without fear or favour”, and that while large protests continue to take place in London, support for a proscribed organisation is a criminal offence.
6 charged in UK under Terrorism Act over alleged support for proscribed group Palestine Action
