More than 523 arrested at London protest in support of Palestine Action group

At least 523 protesters were arrested at a London demonstration in support of the banned activist group, Palestine Action, police said Saturday.

A total of "523 people were arrested today for showing support for a proscribed organisation," Metropolitan Police said in a statement, adding that those detained were aged between 18 and 87.

Police also said the arrests were made in connection with a protest organized by Defend Our Juries “for showing support for a proscribed organisation,” referring to Palestine Action.

It later said that the protest concluded and those involved had left Trafalgar Square in central London.

"Officers continue to process those who have been arrested and investigations are ongoing," said police.

The Defend Our Juries group wrote on the US social media platform X that police are "knowingly unlawfully arresting peaceful protestors for holding placards which say: "I oppose genocide - I support Palestine Action."

Amnesty UK called the arrests "yet another blow to civil liberties in this country," noting the High Court ruling in February that the proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful.

"This is not policing. This is the state criminalising dissent," it wrote on X.

Metropolitan Police had announced it resumed arresting anyone showing support for Palestine Action, even after the High Court ruled that the group's proscription as a terror organization was unlawful.

Palestine Action was banned last July under the Terrorism Act after members of the group entered a Royal Air Force base and spray-painted two aircraft, causing £7 million ($9.44 million) in damage, according to police. Hundreds of pro-Palestine activists have since been arrested across the UK.

Human rights organizations, as well as UN experts, have criticized the escalating crackdown on peaceful protests in the UK, urging the government to reverse its ban of Palestine Action as a terror group.