Protests in Westminster lead to mass arrests as police arrested protesters during a demonstration organised by Defend Our Juries, which authorities say supported england/palestine/”>Palestine Action. The majority of those arrested were accused of showing support for the proscribed group, an offence under the Terrorism Act.
Violence During the Protest
As the protest escalated, a significant number of arrests were made following violent incidents, including assaults on police officers. A total of 17 individuals were arrested on suspicion of assaulting police.
Details of Arrests
In total, 857 people were arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (TACT) for allegedly showing support for Palestine Action. Additionally, 33 individuals were arrested on suspicion of other offences, including police assaults.
Following the arrests, police confirmed that 341 people were released on bail pending further confirmation of their details, with instructions to appear at a police station later. Those who refused to provide their details or were arrested while on bail were taken into custody, bringing the total number held to 519.
Ongoing Investigations
All 858 individuals will be investigated by the force’s Counter Terrorism Command. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Claire Smart, who oversaw the operation, expressed gratitude to officers for their professionalism amidst the incidents of abuse they faced.
Smart noted that the violence was coordinated by a group of masked individuals intent on creating disorder. She contrasted this protest with another event, the Palestine Coalition Marchmarch, which attracted around 20,000 people and remained peaceful. She emphasised that lawful expression of support for a cause is possible without resorting to violence or breaches of the Lawlaw.
