72 people arrested during protest outside London court

Dozens of protesters expressing support for Palestine Action have been arrested outside a court in southeast London.

Around 500 people had gathered to demonstrate outside Woolwich Crown Court today.

Four Palestine Activist supporters are being sentenced at the court over destroying equipment said to be worth over £1.2 million at the Elbit factory in Bristol, an Israeli-based defence firm.

While the hearing was proceeding inside, chants of ‘Free Palestine’ were heard outside with a significant police presence.

Protesters held signs saying ‘Direct Action Saves Lives’ and ‘Direct Action is not Terrorism’ in apparent support for the four activists facing the court.

Police vans began to pour in to whisk away demonstrators, with the first person arrested at about 1.20pm.

As each protester was carried away with one officer holding each limb, crowds applauded while others berated the officers.

Some of the chants included ‘you’re complicit in genocide’ and ‘Met police, shame, shame, all the crimes in your name.’

Palestine Action has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK in a widely criticised move.

It makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, with a punishment of up to 14 years in prison.

Metropolitan Police said: ‘A number of arrests have been made during a protest in south east London.

‘Seventy-two people have been arrested for supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation – Palestine Action – at a demonstration outside Woolwich Crown Court.

‘All are currently in police custody.’

Campaign group Defend Our Juries, which is against the proscription of Palestine Action, said: ‘Hundreds of people are willing to be arrested as terrorists to highlight that what is happening to the four young people being sentenced today should absolutely not be happening in a British court of law.

‘Saving lives is not terrorism, and the people taking action today, along with leading lawyers, celebrities, teachers and health workers are saying it is dangerous for everyone if the judges are allowed to misuse the law in this way.’

The High Court ruled in February that the proscription of Palestine Action is unlawful.

But the ban has remained in place for now during an appeal by the government, which is due to be decided on Monday.

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