Police ban Palestine Action protest at Parliament as group faces terror designation over RAF attack

Organisers from the group had been planning a demonstration around Westminster on Monday, but now face arrest if they enter the area, which police have marked as an exclusion zone.

The Metropolitan Police has also said any demonstrations in central London by the organisation cannot begin before 12pm and must end by 3pm.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Met's Commissioner, made the call after being "shocked and frustrated" by Palestine Action's decision to protest this week.

It follows a high-profile security breach in which two of the group's activists broke into the UK’s largest airbase last week, causing damage reportedly costing the defence industry at least £30 million.

As a result, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to announce plans to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation - putting it on par with Hamas, al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

This would mean that all members and supporters of the group could face sentences of up to 14 years in prison.

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On Sunday, Sir Mark wrote on social media: "I’m sure many people will be as shocked and frustrated as I am to see a protest taking place tomorrow in support of Palestine Action.

"This is an organised extremist criminal group, whose proscription as terrorists is being actively considered.

"Members are alleged to have caused millions of pounds of criminal damage, assaulted a police officer with a sledgehammer and last week claimed responsibility for breaking into an airbase and damaging aircraft.

"Multiple members of the group are awaiting trial accused of serious offences. The right to protest is essential and we will always defend it but actions in support of such a group go beyond what most would see as legitimate protest."

The exclusion zone is thought to be one of the toughest restrictions ever placed around Parliament and includes Parliament Square, Whitehall, Westminster Bridge and Victoria Embankment up to Charing Cross.

It enable police to stop anyone suspected of being a protester from entering the area and gives them the right to search them for any material that could be used in a demonstration.

Breaches of exclusion orders can carry a penalty of up to a month in prison and a fine of up to £1,000.

In response, Palestine Action has moved the protest to Trafalgar Square, outside the exclusion zone.

Annoucing the change on social media, the group said: "The Metropolitan Police are trying to deter support from Palestine Action by banning the protest from taking place at the Houses of Parliament. Don’t let them win!"

The exclusion zone was imposed following concerns about the security risk posed to MPs and peers during recent pro-Palestine protest.

Lord Walney, a former government adviser on political violence, told The Telegraph there was concern after peers were “harassed, intimidated and obstructed” during a previous pro-Palestinian demonstration outside Parliament two weeks ago.

"MPs and peers look like they have to run the gauntlet just to get into Parliament to exercise their democratic duty on behalf of the nation. This is putting their security at risk and clearly undermining democracy where parliamentarians feel they are afraid to go to work," he said.

In a five-year campaign Palestine Action has conducted 356 attacks on sites across the UK.

Between 2020 and 2024, 118 Palestine Action activists were convicted of criminal offences for attacks on British-based companies linked to Israel, while 33 found not guilty of offences at trial.

There are 17 trials continuing relating to direct action protests by Palestine Action.

A Palestine Action spokesman said: "Despite publicly condemning the Israeli government, Britain continues to send military cargo, fly spyplanes over Gaza and refuel US and Israeli fighter jets."