Retired priest, 83, among 29 Palestine Action supporters arrested under Terror Act hours after government bans group
5 July 2025, 14:59 | Updated: 5 July 2025, 23:12
An 83-year-old retired priest is among the 29 people arrested after Palestine Action supporters staged a silent protest on Parliament Square, hours after the group was formally prescribed a terrorist organisation.
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A mass of Metropolitan Police officers were seen to circle dozens of protesters standing beneath the statue of Mahatma Ghandi in Parliament Square on Saturday.
The group, which included an 83-year-old reverend, held placards that said: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”.
Metropolitan Police officers were seen removing 83-year-old Reverend Sue Parfitt from a protest as she expressed support for Palestine Action - a demonstration organised by the Defend Our Juries group.
The Metropolitan Police said on Saturday afternoon that officers were responding to the protest in London's Parliament Square and making arrests.
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"The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence," the force added.
"Arrests are being made."
Police arresting protesters in Parliament Square were met with cries of “Met Police you are puppets of the Zionist state” and “leave them alone”.
The Met has since confirmed that more than 20 individuals have so far been arrested under the Terrorism Act following the protests.
MPs overwhelmingly voted in favour of Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's decision to prescribe the group a terrorist organisation on Wednesday - a move that had appeals dismissed and was later approved in the Lords.
Officers are responding to a protest in support of Palestine Action in Parliament Square.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 5, 2025
The group is now proscribed and expressing support for them is a criminal offence.
Arrests are being made.
Further updates will be shared here.
The law change saw the group now categorised alongside organisations including al Qaeda, ISIS and Hezbollah.
Supporting the group is now a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Another supporter, not directly involved in the Palestine Action protest, shouted: “Who do you protect? Who do you serve?”
One cried: “British police off our streets”There were further chants of “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
A woman seen lying on the floor in handcuffs was carried away in the air by officers and put in a police van.
While suspended and flanked by a large group of police, she said calmly: “Free Palestine, stop the genocide, I oppose genocide, I support the rights of the Palestinian people, I support freedom of speech, I support freedom of assembly”.
A mass of people crowded around to film the scene.
Officers placed her in the vehicle parked on the road behind the square before returning to the Mahatma Ghandi statue, where almost no protesters remained.
Chants of “shame” broke out, directed at the police, and officers moved behind the Ghandi statue.
Most of the police dispersed at around 2.10pm.
LBC has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.
