Twelve activists linked to the banned group Palestine Action have been arrested in London as part of a series of raids across the capital. The arrests come a week after the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the arrests were made on suspicion of offences under section 12 of the Terrorism Act, which makes it a criminal offence to support a banned group. The raids targeted individuals believed to be involved in the group's activities, including fundraising and recruitment.
Palestine Action was banned by the government on 2 July following a vote in Parliament. The group had been under scrutiny after activists allegedly broke into RAF Brize Norton and defaced military aircraft. The ban has been criticised by civil liberties groups and hundreds of lawyers, who argue it conflates protest with terrorism.
In a statement, the Met Police said: 'We are committed to tackling those who support proscribed organisations. These arrests demonstrate our determination to enforce the law and keep the public safe.' The twelve individuals remain in custody for questioning.
