The Metropolitan Police began a new wave of arrests on Saturday after hundreds of people gathered in Parliament Square in central London to show support for the proscribed group Palestine Action.
Police moved in shortly after the demonstration, which organisers said began just before 1 p.m., and began escorting some attendees into police vans. Organisers Defend Our Juries estimated about 1,500 people were at the event. Authorities had warned in advance that those attending could face arrest for supporting the group.
Officers were seen swarming the crowd and making multiple arrests. There were visible tensions as officers and demonstrators clashed in different parts of the square, with some protesters in tears and others shouting at police. Demonstrators chanted, "Met Police - pick a side, justice or genocide," according to on-scene accounts.
Those arrested were expected to refuse street bail and to resist being moved, organisers said, adding that some planned to go "floppy," a tactic that involves going limp to make removal more difficult and requires officers to carry detainees into custody. Police indicated the operation could take all afternoon to clear the remaining protesters from the square.
The demonstration came amid heightened enforcement related to Palestine Action, which has been proscribed by UK authorities. The Metropolitan Police said a total of 138 people had already been charged in connection with the group's activities. Police did not immediately provide a breakdown of the new arrests or the specific offences alleged against those detained during Saturday's action.
The event underlined ongoing tensions in London over demonstrations linked to the Israel-Hamas war and the policing of protests that authorities characterize as supporting banned organisations. The Metropolitan Police have in recent months faced scrutiny over how they police large protests, balancing public order and free speech, while repeatedly warning that attendance at events openly supporting proscribed groups can lead to arrest.
Organisers and some protesters framed Saturday's gathering as an act of solidarity and a protest against what they described as atrocities in Gaza. Police, citing law and public safety, said they would continue to enforce the ban on supporting proscribed organisations and to remove those who breach the law. Further details, including the number of people taken into custody during Saturday's operation and any charges, were expected to be released by the Metropolitan Police later in the day.