Police arrest 300 people as violent clashes break out at London protest in support of Palestine Action
Police have arrested around 300 people at a protest in central London in support of banned group Palestine Action on Saturday.
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Offences being investigated include supporting a banned organisation and assaulting a police officer.
The force also claim their officers have been subjected to an "exceptional level of abuse" while policing the demonstration.
One man was seen being taken away by police as the crowd in Parliament Square chanted "shame on you".
Read more: Government to challenge decision to allow legal action over Palestine Action ban
Palestinian flags were visible across the square as a mass round of applause and chants of "free Palestine" kicked off the demonstration.
The Metropolitan Police has said that those showing support for the banned group face arrest, posting on social media ahead of the demonstration: "Expressing support for a proscribed organisation is a criminal offence under the Terrorism Act.
"Where our officers see offences, we will make arrests."
Only 12 minutes after the protest’s official start time, the force announced: "Officers have begun making arrests for expressing support for proscribed terror organisation Palestine Action at the protest organised by Defend Our Juries."
Defend Our Juries (DOJ) said the action was planned on condition of at least 1,000 people pledging support, but claimed hundreds more planned to take part, with a boost in support after a number of activists involved in organising the protests were arrested under terror laws.
Attendees are expected to refuse street bail, requiring more people to be taken into custody, and they plan to go "floppy", forcing officers to physically carry them away.
Dozens of protesters have surrounded a small group of officers in Parliament Square.
The police stood expressionless as demonstrators screamed and pointed at them, chanting: "Met Police – pick a side, justice or genocide."
Tensions were flaring as other officers had screaming arguments with protesters elsewhere in the square, with some demonstrators in tears.
There are still hundreds of protesters holding signs in Parliament Square and it is likely to take police all afternoon to remove every one of them.
Mike Higgins, 62, who is blind and uses a wheelchair, has returned to the Parliament Square protest after making headlines last month as one of 532 people arrested at a previous demonstration.
He told the PA news agency: "What choice do I have? Nothing is being done about the genocide other than by us.
"And I’m a terrorist? That’s the joke of it. I’ve already been arrested under the Terrorism Act and I suspect I will be today.
"Of course I’ll keep coming back – what choice do I have?"
Protesters have also gathered for a separate demonstration in Russell Square organised by the "Palestine Coalition" – which includes the groups Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Stop the War – while rallies were set to take place in Belfast and Edinburgh as well.
One protester in Parliament Square wore a "Plasticine Action" t-shirt – a satirical play on the banned group which drew headlines last month when another demonstrator was mistakenly arrested for it.
Franco Ferrer, 69, from Llanberis in north Wales, said police had been photographing him since he arrived.
He told the PA news agency: "Maybe they can’t read.
"The T-shirt is an effective way of getting the message across without risking arrest.
"I won’t write a sign because I don’t think I have the courage to do that.
"I’ve come to support the action because the Government banning a protest group by using terror laws is outrageous. It’s silencing free speech."
DOJ said on Friday that it had sent a letter to Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley ahead of the protest in Westminster.
It said police forces in Edinburgh, Totnes, Derry and Kendall had all decided not to arrest sign-holders.
It comes after six people who are alleged to be members of the DOJ, or working closely with it, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to deny terror offences after they were accused of attempting to organise mass gatherings with the aim of rendering the ban on Palestine Action unenforceable.
The charges related to plans for meetings in London, Cardiff and Manchester that were allegedly organised over Zoom in July, August, and this month.
On Friday, the Crown Prosecution Service said a further 24 people were charged over allegedly showing support for the group, bringing the total number being prosecuted to 138.
Palestine Action was banned as a terror organisation in July after the group claimed responsibility for an action in which two Voyager planes were damaged at RAF Brize Norton on June 20.
The Home Office is set to appeal against the High Court ruling allowing Palestine Action’s co-founder Huda Ammori to proceed with a legal challenge against the Government over the group’s ban.
Ms Ammori took legal action against the department over then-home secretary Yvette Cooper’s decision to proscribe the group under anti-terror laws, which made membership of, or support for, the direct action group a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.