Politics · United Kingdom · 2 hrs ago
UK police arrest 139 at London protest against Palestine Action ban
Police arrested 139 people at a London protest against the ban on Palestine Action, according to the Metropolitan Police.
Hundreds gathered outside the US Embassy on Saturday, holding signs in support of the group.
The UK outlawed Palestine Action in 2025 under terrorism laws, making membership or support for it a crime punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The government banned the group after activists broke into an RAF base and damaged two military aircraft.
The ban has led to more than 4,000 arrests, according to campaigners, as people have protested against the decision.
Critics say the ban restricts freedom of speech, while police said most arrests on Saturday were for expressing support for a banned organisation.
The UK Supreme Court is due to hear an appeal on November 4 challenging the ban.
London police said 139 people were arrested on October 31 at a protest outside the U.S. Embassy against the ban on Palestine Action.
The Metropolitan Police said most arrests were for expressing support for a proscribed organisation.
Hundreds gathered at the demonstration, organised by Defend Our Juries, with many holding signs supporting Palestine Action.
The group said the arrests brought the number detained for defying the ban since July 2025 to more than 4,000.
The protest came days before a November 4 Supreme Court appeal challenging the group’s proscription.
- Who
- London police arrested 139 protesters. The demonstration was organised by Defend Our Juries.
- What
- Protesters gathered to oppose the ban on Palestine Action and display support for the group.
- When
- October 31, 2026.
- Where
- Outside the U.S. Embassy in London.
- Why
- Protesters opposed the proscription of Palestine Action; critics said the ban restricted freedom of speech.
UK government and police
Palestine Action supporters and ban critics
The ban
UK government and police
The government outlawed Palestine Action under terrorism legislation; police said most arrests were for expressing support for a proscribed organisation.
Palestine Action supporters and ban critics
Supporters and critics described the ban as draconian and said it violated freedom of speech.
The arrests
UK government and police
Police arrested people for expressing support for a proscribed organisation.
Palestine Action supporters and ban critics
Labour MP John McDonnell said protesting against the proscription cannot automatically be interpreted as support for the group.
The UK government outlawed Palestine Action under terrorism legislation.
Police reported that 48 people had been arrested at the London protest.
The Metropolitan Police said 139 people had been arrested.
The Supreme Court was due to hear an appeal challenging Palestine Action’s proscription.
- Arrests in London
- 139
- Initial arrest update
- 48 people
- Protest location
- Outside the U.S. Embassy, London
- Ban took effect
- July 2025
- Supreme Court appeal
- November 4, 2026
- Reported detentions since July 2025
- More than 4,000, according to Defend Our Juries
4 sources
London police arrest 139 people outside U.S. Embassy for supporting banned pro-Palestinian group
UK police arrest dozens at London protest in support of banned Palestine Action
London police arrest 139 as hundreds protest Palestine Action ban
Dozens arrested outside US Embassy in London for supporting outlawed pro-Palestinian group
What people are saying
It is truly dystopian that there have now been over 4,000 arrests under terror laws for peaceful vigils silently expressing opposition to genocide and support for the protest group Palestine Action.
automatically interpreted
The sight yet again of grandparents, teenagers and everyone in between being hauled into police vans for peacefully holding placards is a disgraceful attack on freedom of speech.
Officers remain at the scene and are continuing to make arrests.
Posts on X
BREAKING: BLANKET ARRESTS BEGIN OUTSIDE US EMBASSY The Met Police began making arrests before any signs were on display, arresting volunteers like this woman for supporting people holding signs, and arresting people for having blank placards.
A Section 35 dispersal order will be in place in parts of central London from 8am to 11pm today. This is following information that a group are planning to attend an event and express support for a proscribed organisation, which is an offence under the Terrorism Act. The order