London police arrested 523 people at a sit-in demonstration in Trafalgar Square on Saturday, as protesters defied the government's contested ban on the Palestine Action group. The arrests targeted demonstrators aged 18 to 87 who held placards supporting the organization or displayed messages reading "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."
The mass detention occurred despite a February High Court ruling that declared the government's terrorist designation of Palestine Action unlawful and disproportionate. The court cited free speech concerns in overturning the ban, but the government has appealed the decision, keeping the prohibition in effect during the legal challenge.
Palestine Action was designated a terrorist organization in July 2024 alongside groups like al-Qaeda, making membership punishable by up to 14 years in prison and expressions of support by up to six months. The ban followed incidents where group members broke into Royal Air Force bases and damaged military aircraft used to transport weapons to Israel.
It's really important to continue to show up. It's important that we all continue to oppose genocide. … The government might flip-flop in their legal argument, but the morals of these people [here] do not change.
Freya, 28, environmental organization manager — Al Jazeera
The demonstration drew nearly 1,000 participants to central London, including Robert Del Naja of the band Massive Attack, who was arrested while holding a support placard. Police removed activists from the square while other demonstrators cheered and clapped in solidarity.