Nearly 500 people have been arrested over protests supporting the proscribed group Palestine Action, as demonstrators defied calls to reconsider in the wake of the Manchester synagogue terror attack.
Two days after the attack in Crumpsall, crowds of people gathered in central London on Saturday to call on the government to reverse the ban on the proscribed group.
Organisers of the protest, Defend Our Juries, said 1,000 people attended the event to “oppose genocide and the Palestine Action ban”.
The Metropolitan Police said 493 people had been arrested, but the force was continuing to process some of those arrested in the last hour of the protest so the number may increase.
Before the demonstration even began, six people were arrested for unfurling banners which read “I oppose genocide” and “I support Palestine Action” on Westminster Bridge.
The bulk of the arrests were made in Trafalgar Square, where protesters held placards showing their support for Palestine Action, which was added to the UK’s list of proscribed terrorist groups in July.
The Met said a different group of protesters also gathered in Whitehall before trying to make their way to Trafalgar Square.
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Many of those arrested throughout the day were older individuals. Pictures showed people with walking sticks or in wheelchairs being supported by police, while others were physically carried to a processing pen after failing to cooperate with officers.
One protester, 62-year-old Mike Higgins, who is blind and uses a wheelchair, told the PA news agency: “We are going to win this battle, by the way, there’s no doubt about that. The problem for me is that I want to win it now to try and bring an end to the suffering in Palestine.”
The Metropolitan Police had urged the Defend Our Juries group to postpone the event in light of the synagogue attack.
Chief of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, said he was worried resources would be stretched and the ability of the force to protect communities would be compromised as a result of the protest.
In a statement on X on Saturday morning, Sir Keir Starmer also said anyone thinking of protesting should “recognise and respect the grief of British Jews”, while Jewish figures called the action “phenomenally tone deaf”.
In a letter to Ade Adelekan, the deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Defend Our Juries said the protest would continue as planned as “the protection of our democracy and the prevention of countless deaths are critical issues”.
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The controversial decision drew criticism from policing minister Sarah Jones, who said many of those attending the event “want to be arrested, that is their aim”.
She said: “We believe in people’s rights to protest. This protest here in London is a different order of event because people are supporting a proscribed organisation and the police have to step in, in that case.”
A similar event held by the group, Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine, took place earlier on Saturday in Manchester. Instead of marching in support of Palestine Action, the event was to “honour the names of Palestinian children brutally killed by Israel in Gaza”.
A crowd of around 100 pro-Palestinian supporters gathered outside the city’s Cathedral to listen to speakers before moving en masse to St Peter’s Square.
People were heard chanting “Free Palestine!” while a small group of counter-protesters marched in front shouting “release the hostages”.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) did not say if any arrests were made.
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Away from the protests, GMP said four of the six people arrested in connection to the synagogue terror attack will remain in custody for up to another five days.
The force said the custody extension applies to two men, aged 30 and 32, and two women, aged 61 and 46.
An 18-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man, also remain in custody for questioning.
GMP said all six people have been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.
