A London protest over Palestine Action’s ban ended with 212 arrests, according to the Metropolitan Police. The demonstration took place in Trafalgar Square on Saturday and focused on opposition to Britain’s decision to ban the pro-Palestinian group under anti-terrorism legislation.
The protest was the first major gathering since London’s High Court ruled in February that the designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation was unlawful. However, the legal dispute is not over, as UK Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood has been granted approval to appeal the ruling.
London’s Metropolitan Police said it arrested 212 people during the demonstration. In a post on X, the force said officers were “continuing to make arrests where people are showing support for a proscribed organisation”.
The protest scene included demonstrators holding placards, waving Palestinian flags, and wearing black-and-white Palestinian scarves. Some protesters sat on the ground, while others used camping chairs in Trafalgar Square. The arrests quickly placed the demonstration at the centre of a wider debate over protest rights, public order, and Britain’s legal approach to groups accused of unlawful activity.
BREAKING: Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja unlawfully arrested under the Terrorism Act.
He was amongst hundreds of protestors arrested for holding signs which say "I oppose genocide – I support Palestine Action".
The ban is unlawful, and so are these arrests. pic.twitter.com/FOgvC0z7x2
— Defend Our Juries (@DefendOurJuries) April 11, 2026Lawmakers banned Palestine Action last July under anti-terrorism legislation. The move came after some members broke into a Royal Air Force base. The group has accused the British government of complicity in what it describes as Israeli war crimes in Gaza. That accusation, alongside the group’s activities, has kept Palestine Action in the spotlight of political and legal debate.
The February High Court ruling marked a major development by finding the ban unlawful. Even so, the government is continuing its challenge through the appeal process. As a result, Saturday’s protest unfolded against a tense legal and political backdrop. Supporters viewed the ruling as a sign that authorities should reconsider the ban, while police continued to enforce laws against supporting the banned organisations.
