Police Arrest 48 at London Rally for Palestine Action

London Metropolitan Police arrested 48 people on Saturday during a protest outside the U.S. Embassy. The majority of those taken into custody were detained for expressing support for Palestine Action, a group the U.K. government outlawed as a terrorist organization last year. Officers remained at the scene into the evening to process additional detainees.

More than 100 people participated in the demonstration. Many carried signs that read, "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action." Witnesses reported hearing chants of "free, free Palestine" as police moved protesters into vans. The protest took place in the run-up to a legal challenge scheduled for next week.

The U.K. ban makes membership in or support for Palestine Action a crime. Individuals can face up to 14 years in prison if convicted. The group was designated a terrorist organization by the U.K. government last year. In August, the U.S. government also announced sanctions against the group, designating it as a terror organization as well.

A second protest occurred outside the U.S. Consulate in Edinburgh, Scotland. Demonstrators there held similar placards during a vigil. Police Scotland reported no arrests at the Edinburgh event. However, officers continued to review video evidence to identify people seen wearing T-shirts and holding banners showing support for the proscribed group.

Police Scotland stated that evidence is being reviewed and further action will be taken as appropriate. The group, founded in 2020, aims to stop U.K. military support for Israel. It accuses Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, an accusation Israel strongly denies. The group says it targets corporate enablers of the Israeli military-industrial complex.

Activists have conducted several direct-action campaigns in recent years. In 2024, members broke into a factory owned by Elbit Systems UK and smashed equipment with sledgehammers and crowbars. In June 2025, activists entered a Royal Air Force base and sprayed red paint into the engines of two tanker planes. They also used crowbars to cause further damage at the site.

The Supreme Court will hear an appeal against Palestine Action’s designation as a terror group on Nov. 4. Supporters argue the ban is too strict and violates their freedom of speech. The legal challenge will determine whether the group remains a proscribed organization under current U.K. law.