5 hours ago
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PA Media
More than 20 people have been arrested in London after what police described as a protest in support of the banned group Palestine Action.
The Metropolitan Police said those arrested were being held on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 and had been taken into custody.
Pictures from the Westminster demonstration showed a small group holding placards reading "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action".
As of Saturday, the group is proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000, after lawyers acting on its behalf failed with a court bid to block the ban on Friday.
The designation means being a member of, or showing support for Palestine Action, is a criminal offence and could lead to up to 14 years in prison.
In an earlier statement, the Met said: "Officers are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square.
"The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence."
The government moved to ban the group after an estimated £7m of damage was caused to planes at RAF Brize Norton last month during a protest Palestine Action said it was behind.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to proscribe the group last month, calling damage to two military aircraft "disgraceful" and claiming the group had a "long history of unacceptable criminal damage".
Formed in 2020, Palestine Action has carried out direct action protests over the past five years, mostly against arms manufacturers in the UK which are selling weapons to Israel.
After losing the appeal on Friday, Raza Husain KC, barrister for Palestine Action's Ms Ammori, told the court banning the group would be "ill-considered" and an "authoritarian abuse" of power.
