BRUSSELS

A total of 890 protesters were arrested during yesterday's demonstration in London in support of the banned activist group Palestine Action, police announced Sunday.

According to the Metropolitan Police, 857 people were arrested under the 2000 Terrorism Act for showing support for the banned group. Another 33 people were detained for public order offenses, including 17 for assaults on police officers, after parts of the protest turned violent.

Those whose identities were verified were released on bail to appear at a later date. Those refusing to provide details or already on bail were taken to custody sites in London.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Claire Smart, who led the policing operation, argued that the violence was "coordinated and carried out by a group intent on creating as much disorder as possible."

Around 1,500 demonstrators took part in the rally on Saturday.

In a similar protest last month, police detained more than 500 people

The UK banned Palestine Action in July under the Terrorism Act, a decision that has led to the arrests of hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters for holding signs or showing support for the group.

The demonstration took place as the genocide in the Gaza Strip is nearing the two-year mark.

Israel’s military offensive has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians since October 2023, according to Gaza authorities, leaving the enclave facing famine conditions.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.