Met charges 47 more over alleged support for Palestine Action
Arrests at July demonstration bring number charged in London to 114 as police warn of further charging decisions
The Metropolitan Police charged 47 people on suspicion of supporting the banned group Palestine Action after arrests at a July demonstration, the force said Thursday.
All 47 were detained at a protest on 19 July in London and subsequently charged by post. Their appearance at Westminster Magistrates' Court is scheduled for October, with the suspects accused of a terrorism offence for allegedly showing support for a proscribed organisation.
Det. Chf. Supt. Helen Flanagan of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command said those convicted could face "potentially serious consequences" for their careers and ability to travel. She said investigators expected "further charging decisions through this week and beyond," while stressing the police recognised "people's right to demonstrate peacefully, and thousands continue to protest in support of Palestine without breaking counter-terrorism laws."
The 47 charges bring the total number of people charged in London with an offence of showing support for Palestine Action to 114, the Met said. The force has carried out more than 700 arrests since the group was proscribed on 5 July.
Police said all those charged in this cohort live in England. They were processed through standard charging procedures, with formal notices sent by post. The charges relate to the act of showing support for a proscribed organisation, an offence under the Terrorism Act that can carry severe penalties.
The proscription of Palestine Action in early July marked a significant escalation in the policing response to demonstrations connected to the Israel–Gaza conflict in the United Kingdom. Since the ban, the Metropolitan Police have conducted a series of operations targeting alleged organisers and supporters of direct-action tactics used by the group, including occupations and attempted blockades of facilities linked to firms they say supply Israel.
Authorities have said the measures are intended to prevent actions they assess as unlawful or dangerous, while campaigners and civil liberties groups have raised concerns about the use of terrorism legislation in the context of political protest. The Met has repeatedly emphasised its dual responsibility to uphold public safety and protect the right to lawful assembly.
Those charged will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in October, where magistrates will decide whether there is sufficient evidence for cases to proceed to a higher court. The Met said charging decisions remain under review as investigations continue.