Prominent climate campaigner Greta Thunberg has been taken into police custody during a demonstration in central London, in an incident linked to the pro-Palestine activist network.
Arrest Follows Early Morning Protest Damage
The incident began in the early hours of Tuesday 23 December 2025, outside the offices of Aspen Insurance on Fenchurch Street. According to the protest group Prisoners for Palestine, the location was targeted because the insurance firm provides services to Elbit Systems, an Israel-linked defence company.
City of London Police confirmed that at around 7am, individuals used hammers and red paint to damage the building's frontage. Officers arrested a man and a woman on suspicion of criminal damage. The pair had glued themselves to the vicinity, requiring specialist officers to safely remove them for transport to custody.
Thunberg Detained Under Terrorism Legislation
Following the initial arrests, 22-year-old Greta Thunberg arrived at the scene. A video shared by the Prisoners for Palestine group showed the Swedish activist holding a placard that read: “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.”
This action led to her detention. A police spokesperson stated: "She has been arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organisation (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000."
The designation of Palestine Action as a terror group by the UK government made public support for it a criminal offence under this legislation.
Context of the Demonstration
The protest was staged to show solidarity with members of Palestine Action who are currently on hunger strike while in prison. The activist network is known for its direct-action campaigns against companies it alleges are complicit in Israel's military actions.
The arrest of a figure of Thunberg's global profile significantly raises the visibility of both the protest and the legal boundaries surrounding support for proscribed groups in the UK. It highlights the ongoing tensions and legal complexities surrounding protest movements, national security law, and the Israel-Palestine conflict on British streets.
All three individuals remain in police custody as enquiries continue.
