Overview

• The Metropolitan Police arrested five Defend Our Juries spokespeople in dawn raids on suspicion of encouraging support for a proscribed organisation under section 12 of the Terrorism Act.
• Those detained include individuals in London, Kendal and Barnsley, and they remained in custody as the force described the operation as part of an ongoing counterterrorism investigation.
• Organisers say more than 1,000 people have pledged to hold signs in Parliament Square on 6 September stating “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action,” and the protest will go ahead.
• On 1 September, police charged 47 more people over alleged support for the banned group at a 19 July demonstration, bringing the total charged to 114, with Westminster Magistrates’ Court appearances set for 27–28 October.
• Police warn section 13 convictions can carry up to six months in jail and affect jobs and travel, with recent charge lists including many over-60s such as an 81-year-old, while Amnesty International condemned the latest arrests and a judicial review of the ban is due in November.