Metropolitan Police arrest 325 people outside US Embassy in London

The Metropolitan Police arrested 325 people outside the US Embassy in London on Saturday during a protest organised by the group Defend Our Juries. The demonstration was part of a campaign to lift the ban on the direct action group Palestine Action. This mass arrest comes as the UK government continues to defend the proscription of the group, which was imposed under anti-terrorism laws.

Mass arrests and terrorism charges

According to the World Socialist Web Site, 320 of those detained were held for expressing support for a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act. Many protesters were carrying placards that read, "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action." The World Socialist Web Site reports that those arrested for holding such signs are charged under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, an offence that carries up to six months’ imprisonment.

The police operation began shortly after 12:30 pm, before the protest's scheduled 1:00 pm start, according to the World Socialist Web Site. The Metropolitan Police had issued a Section 35 dispersal order that covered an area of approximately 2.3 square miles, stretching from Charing Cross to Battersea Power Station, including Whitehall and the Parliamentary estate.

Commander Adam Slonecki, who led the operation, stated that those attending the event were "essentially meeting to purposefully commit a crime." He further warned that police would target not only placard holders but also anyone deemed to be providing "logistical support" or playing a key role in organising the event.

Widening net of state repression

The arrests included elderly protesters and individuals who had travelled long distances. The World Socialist Web Site reports that 75-year-old retired lawyer Charles Allison was removed by officers just before 1:00 pm after being told he posed a "threat." Middle East Eye notes that nearly 4,000 people have been arrested for allegedly showing support for Palestine Action since the British government proscribed it in July 2025, and that many of those arrested include elderly people and Holocaust survivors.

The scale of the crackdown has drawn condemnation from political figures and trade unionists. John McDonnell MP argued that protesting against the decision to proscribe an organisation should not automatically be interpreted as supporting that organisation and resulting in criminalisation. Ian Hodson, National President of the Bakers’ Union BFAWU, told Real Media that threatening mass arrests for mere attendance raises "deeply troubling questions about where our democracy is heading."

Defend Our Juries released a statement calling the police threats a "desperate attempt to intimidate" that proved embarrassing for the Met when their threats regarding practical support turned out to be empty.

Legal battle ahead

The police action takes place in the immediate lead-up to a significant legal challenge. The UK Supreme Court is scheduled to begin hearing an appeal on November 4 by Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori against the group’s proscription, following a June ruling by the Court of Appeal that overturned a High Court decision.

The government, under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, is fighting to maintain the ban imposed by his Labour predecessor Keir Starmer. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has pledged to "robustly defend this appeal," according to the World Socialist Web Site. Middle East Eye reports that the Supreme Court will hold a two-day hearing starting Wednesday.

This piece was generated automatically by an AI model from the sources listed below. It has not been reviewed by a human editor.

Sources

• Police arrest 325 outside US Embassy in London — Real Media
• 325 Palestine Action supporters arrested outside London's US embassy as Burnham widens attack on democratic rights — World Socialist Web Site
• London police arrest dozens days before Supreme Court hearing on Palestine Action ban — Middle East Eye