London police arrest 48 at Palestine Action protest; total detentions since ban top 4,000

London's Metropolitan Police arrested at least 48 people on Saturday after hundreds of protesters defied a warning not to attend a rally against the proscription of Palestine Action, the campaign group classified as a terrorist organisation under UK law.

The majority of arrests were for expressing support for a proscribed organisation, police said in a statement posted on X. Officers remained at the scene and continued making arrests after the initial count.

The demonstration outside the United States embassy in London was the first mass protest against the proscription since the proscription was announced in July. Protesters also gathered outside the US consulate in Edinburgh; no arrests were reported there. Placards at both locations read "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action".

Organising group Defend Our Juries said Saturday's arrests brought the total number of people detained for defying the Palestine Action ban to more than 4,000 since July 2025.

Labour MP John McDonnell posted on X that peaceful opposition to the government's proscription decision could not be automatically interpreted as support for the organisation and therefore as a criminal offence. He added that he believed the government had made the wrong decision in designating Palestine Action a terrorist organisation.

Felix Jakens, Amnesty International UK's head of communications and campaigns, called on the government to reverse the proscription and reform protest laws. A Supreme Court appeal challenging the designation is scheduled for Wednesday.