More than 70 arrested at UK protests in support of banned group
LONDON—More than 70 people were arrested on Saturday at demonstrations in the UK protesting against the British government’s banning of the Palestine Action group which it had tagged as a terrorist organization for breaking-in and vandalizing aircraft at a Royal Air Force base.
The arrests were made in London, Manchester, South Wales Police and in Cardiff.
The outlawing of the group means support for Palestinian Action is deemed a criminal offense. Police arrested 29 people at a similar protest last weekend.
Signs with the wording “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,” were held aloft in silence as the protesters were surrounded by police officers and members of the media.
Proscribing group under the Terrorism Act 2000 means that membership in the group and support for its actions are punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
The government banned Palestine Action after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base in Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England, on June 20, damaged two planes using red paint and crowbars in protest at the British government’s ongoing military support for Israel in its war in Gaza.
