Major Security Incident at West London Prison Leads to Dozens of Arrests
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed the arrest of eighty-six protesters following a significant breach of security at HMP Wormwood Scrubs in West London. The demonstrators, who were supporting a Palestine Action hunger striker, allegedly entered one of the prison buildings, leading to a large-scale police response.
Details of the Prison Grounds Breach
According to police statements, the group breached the prison grounds and refused to leave when ordered. Officers reported that the activists blocked prison staff from entering and leaving the facility and threatened police personnel. While a number of protesters managed to access a staff entrance, it is understood that they did not penetrate beyond initial security checkpoints.
Videos circulated on social media appear to show the group chanting and waving Palestinian flags within the prison perimeter. The footage depicts demonstrators moving towards the prison buildings and entering a structure while using loudspeakers and drums. Placards displayed messages such as 'Umer Khalid speaking justice to injustice everywhere'.
Support for Hunger Striker Umer Khalid
The protest was organised in support of 22-year-old Umer Khalid, who is currently on both a hunger and thirst strike inside the prison. Khalid, who suffers from Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy, is the last remaining participant in the Prisoners for Palestine hunger strike campaign. He has been refusing food since November, with a brief pause over Christmas due to illness, and has now escalated his protest by also abstaining from water.
Khalid has been imprisoned since July last year and is awaiting trial for allegedly breaking into RAF Brize Norton in June and causing criminal damage, charges which he denies. He was among eight individuals who initially began hunger strikes in protest of these allegations, though three others have since ended their actions after striking for between 52 and 73 days.
Official Condemnation and Prisoner Welfare
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson described the protest escalation as 'deeply concerning' and 'completely unacceptable'. While acknowledging the right to peaceful protest, the spokesperson emphasised that trespassing and threats toward staff and officers would not be tolerated. The Ministry assured that prison security was not compromised during the incident.
Regarding Khalid's welfare, the Ministry stated that prisoners on hunger strike are managed according to established policy, which includes:
- Regular medical checks by healthcare professionals
- Heart monitoring and blood tests
- Support to encourage resumption of eating and drinking
- Hospital transfer if deemed medically necessary
Background of RAF Brize Norton Incident
This protest follows earlier actions by pro-Palestine activists. In July, the group Palestine Action claimed responsibility for infiltrating RAF Brize Norton, where activists allegedly sprayed red paint into the engines of two Airbus Voyager aircraft before escaping. The Ministry of Defence strongly condemned what it described as vandalism of Royal Air Force assets and confirmed collaboration with police investigations.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that all eighty-six arrests were made on suspicion of aggravated trespass. The incident represents one of the most significant breaches of prison security in recent years and highlights ongoing tensions surrounding pro-Palestine activism within the UK's justice system.
