Palestine Action activists have clashed with police in ugly scenes during a mass protest in London as the Government moves to proscribe the group as a terrorist organisation.
Hundreds of activists waving Palestinian flags and holding placards gathered at Trafalgar Square as the group’s leaders called for an ’emergency mobilisation’ in response to the Government’s plans.
The demonstration was initially due to be staged outside Parliament but protesters were forced to descend on Trafalgar Square instead after the Metropolitan Police imposed an exclusion zone.
Protesters, some wearing black face coverings, were seen scuffling with police and shouting up close into their faces, with officers forced to drag activists out of the crowds. Multiple arrests were made by officers.
The Palestine Action protest comes just days after two of its members broke into RAF Brize Norton and damaged two military planes in a stunt condemned by MPs including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The incident, a major security breach at Britain’s largest RAF base, is being investigated by counter-terror police.
The Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he was ‘shocked’ by the planned protest and described Palestine Action as an ‘organised extremist criminal group’.
Meanwhile Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has decided to proscribe Palestine Action and will lay an order before Parliament next week to make membership and support for the protest group illegal.
The proscription of Palestine Action puts the group on a par with Hamas, al-Qaeda or ISIS under British law, banning anyone from promoting the group, arranging meetings or carrying its logo in public.
Those breaching the rules could face up to 14 years in jail.
Dozens of Palestinian flags have adorned Trafalgar Square as music from the pro-Palestinian northern-irish rap group ‘Kneecap’ was blasted from speakers.
A flurry of placards say: ‘Hands off Palestine Action’.
By 1.30pm, protesters completely blocked the corner of Trafalgar Square going off to Duncannon Street.
Police officers made a blockade leading down the exit and all traffic grounded to a halt.
Officers received a barrage of verbal abuse from the crowds, with some shouting ‘f*** you’ and ‘who do you serve?’.
One demonstrator said: ‘We will cause mayhem today. We’re here to break and smash the system.
‘The police will get it. We don’t care.’
In several attacks, Palestine Action has committed acts of serious damage to property with the aim of progressing its political cause and influencing the Government.
These include attacks at Thales in Glasgow in 2022; and last year at Instro Precision in Kent and Elbit Systems UK in Bristol.
The seriousness of these attacks includes the extent and nature of damage caused, including to targets affecting UK national security, and the impact on innocent members of the public fleeing for safety and subjected to violence.
The extent of damage across these three attacks alone, spreading the length and breadth of the UK, runs into the millions of pounds.
It comes as the Home Secretary confirmed she is launching the process that will make it a criminal offence to belong to or support the group. She said the government ‘will not tolerate those that put that security at risk’.
‘I have decided to proscribe Palestine Action under section 3 of the Terrorism Act 2000. A draft proscription order will be laid in Parliament on Monday 30 June. If passed, it will make it illegal to be a member of, or invite support for, Palestine Action.
‘This decision is specific to Palestine Action and does not affect lawful protest groups and other organisations campaigning on issues around Palestine or the Middle East.
‘The disgraceful attack on Brize Norton in the early hours of the morning on Friday 20 June is the latest in a long history of unacceptable criminal damage committed by Palestine Action.’
Ms Cooper added: ‘Since its inception in 2020, Palestine Action has orchestrated a nationwide campaign of direct criminal action against businesses and institutions, including key national infrastructure and defence firms that provide services and supplies to support Ukraine, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), ‘Five Eyes’ allies and the UK defence enterprise.
‘Its activity has increased in frequency and severity since the start of 2024 and its methods have become more aggressive, with its members demonstrating a willingness to use violence.
‘Palestine Action has also broadened its targets from the defence industry to include financial firms, charities, universities and government buildings. Its activities meet the threshold set out in the statutory tests established under the Terrorism Act 2000.
‘This has been assessed through a robust evidence-based process, by a wide range of experts from across government, the police and the Security Services.’
Ms Cooper said that the group had caused damage ‘running into the millions of pounds’.
