Arrests made at rally against Palestine Action ban in London

Police have started arresting protesters at a demonstration against the government’s ban of the campaign group Palestine Action.

Hundreds of people have gathered in Parliament Square in central London, some waving Palestinian flags and chanting “free Palestine”. Others held placards saying: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”

Officers have been seen carrying people out of the crowd, after some protesters said they planned to refuse bail and go “floppy” if they were arrested.

The Metropolitan Police had earlier warned that people showing support for the group, which has been proscribed under terrorism law, would face arrest.

The government proscribed Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act in July, making membership of or support of the group a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

It follows a major demonstration last month which saw more than 500 people arrested for displaying placards in support of Palestine Action.

The average age of those arrested at the August rally was 54, and the most arrests – 147 of them – were of people aged between 60 and 69.