Counter terrorism police have arrested five activists linked to the proscribed group Palestine Action in a series of dawn raids across England. The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command confirmed that three men and two women, aged between 26 and 61, were taken into custody on Tuesday as part of an ongoing investigation.
Those arrested include a 26-year-old man and a 55-year-old man in South London, a 61-year-old woman in East London, a 48-year-old woman in Kendal, Cumbria, and a 39-year-old man in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. They were detained under section 12 of the Terrorism Act, which covers support for banned organisations.
Campaign group Defend Our Juries condemned the arrests, stating they represent an “unprecedented assault on free speech”. The group said more than 1,000 people are set to take action on September 6 in Parliament Square, holding signs in support of Palestine Action. A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: “This level of political repression is not what we expect in a democracy – it's the kind of tactic typically associated with authoritarian regimes around the world.”
Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan, Head of Operations for the Counter Terrorism Command, said: “These arrests have been made as part of an ongoing investigation into people we suspect have been involved in encouraging support for the proscribed group Palestine Action. There are serious consequences for those who are found guilty of an offence under the Terrorism Act, so I would urge anyone considering showing public support towards this proscribed group to reconsider.”
Kerry Moscogiuri, director of campaigns and communications at Amnesty International UK, branded the arrests “incredibly concerning” and called for the immediate release of those held. “The mass peaceful demonstrations they have organised over recent weeks are protected by international human rights law – and to think they run the risk of being imprisoned for up to 14 years is a terrifying example of the UK authorities' willingness to use authoritarian practices to silence dissent,” she added.
