Dozens of protesters are arrested during a demonstration outside Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London as four Palestine Action activists are sentenced. Reports say around 500 people gather outside the court, chanting and holding signs in support of the defendants and other supporters. Police maintain a significant presence as demonstrators assemble, with Met Police stating that 72 people are arrested for supporting Palestine Action, which is described by police as a proscribed terrorist organisation. The arrested people are held in police custody. The sentencing relates to four activists facing court over an incident described as the destruction of equipment reportedly worth over £1.2 million at the Elbit factory in Bristol, an Israeli-based defence firm. Outside the hearing, protesters call for “Free Palestine” and use slogans including “Direct Action Saves Lives” and “Direct Action is not Terrorism.” Some chants also include political messages directed at police. The proscription of Palestine Action is referenced as subject to legal challenge: the High Court ruled in February that the proscription is unlawful, while the government appeals and the designation remains in place for now.
72 arrested at protest outside Woolwich Crown Court during Palestine Action activists’ sentencing
Dozens of protesters are arrested during a demonstration outside Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London as four Palestine Action activists are sentenced. Reports say around 500 people gather outside...
- About 500 people gather outside Woolwich Crown Court in southeast London for a protest supporting Palestine Action supporters facing sentencing.
- Metropolitan Police say 72 people are arrested for supporting Palestine Action, described as a proscribed terrorist organisation.
- The protesters are detained and the arrested people are held in police custody.
- The sentencing involves four Palestine Action activists accused of destroying equipment reportedly worth more than £1.2 million at the Elbit factory in Bristol.
- The High Court previously ruled the proscription of Palestine Action unlawful, but it remains in place while the government appeals.
More than 70 people supporting Palestine Action have been arrested outside Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London as a judge prepares to sentence four activists for a factory raid.
11 hours agoMet Police say they have been arrested for supporting a proscribed terror group
12 hours agoTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Dozens of protesters expressing support for Palestine Action have been arrested outside a court in southeast London. Around 500 people had gathered to demonstrate outside Woolwich Crown Court today. Four Palestine Activist supporters are being sentenced at the court over destroying equipment said to be worth over £1.2 million at the Elbit factory in Bristol, an Israeli-based defence firm. While the hearing was proceeding inside, chants of ‘Free Palestine’ were heard outside with a significant police presence. Protesters were being detained outside Woolwich Crown Court (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire) Protesters held signs saying ‘Direct Action Saves Lives’ and ‘Direct Action is not Terrorism’ in apparent support for the four activists facing the court. Police vans began to pour in to whisk away demonstrators, with the first person arrested at about 1.20pm. As each protester was carried away with one officer holding each limb, crowds applauded while others berated the officers. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page Some of the chants included ‘you’re complicit in genocide’ and ‘Met police, shame, shame, all the crimes in your name.’ Palestine Action has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK in a widely criticised move. It makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, with a punishment of up to 14 years in prison. The protesters have been accused of showing support for Palestine Action, a proscribed terrorist group (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire) Metropolitan Police said: ‘A number of arrests have been made during a protest in south east London. ‘Seventy-two people have been arrested for supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation – Palestine Action – at a demonstration outside Woolwich Crown Court. ‘All are currently in police custody.’ Campaign group Defend Our Juries, which is against the proscription of Palestine Action, said: ‘Hundreds of people are willing to be arrested as terrorists to highlight that what is happening to the four young people being sentenced today should absolutely not be happening in a British court of law. ‘Saving lives is not terrorism, and the people taking action today, along with leading lawyers, celebrities, teachers and health workers are saying it is dangerous for everyone if the judges are allowed to misuse the law in this way.’ The High Court ruled in February that the proscription of Palestine Action is unlawful. It has remained in place for now during an appeal by the government. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
12 hours agoMore than 70 people supporting Palestine Action have been arrested outside Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London as a judge prepares to sentence four activists for a factory raid.
12 hours agoPeople gathered outside Woolwich Crown Court today as a sentencing is underway.
12 hours ago
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