Chicago – July 13, 2025
British police arrested many people on Saturday for supporting a pro-Palestinian group, Palestine Action, which was banned earlier this month under anti-terrorism laws. The arrests took place in London and Manchester, where police detained at least 41 people in London and 16 in Manchester. In total, 86 arrests were made across the UK, with protests also happening in Wales and Northern Ireland.
The UK government made the group illegal after some of its members broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged planes in protest against Britain’s support for Israel. The police said that most of the arrests were for showing support for a banned group, and one person was arrested for assault.
The protesters in London gathered near a statue of Nelson Mandela outside the British Parliament, holding signs that read, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” This came after a similar protest in London the week before, where 29 people were arrested.
