Overview

• Officers began detaining protesters within minutes of the event’s start, citing offences for expressing support for a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act.
• Crowd estimates ranged from about 1,000 to 1,500 in Parliament Square as Reuters and other outlets reported dozens of arrests and the Met signalled operations would continue through the afternoon.
• The Met said it had the capacity to process large numbers, deploying more than 1,200 officers and using makeshift processing and street-bail arrangements around Westminster.
• The Crown Prosecution Service reports 138 people charged since July’s ban, and counterterrorism officers this week charged six alleged organisers over protest planning and Zoom meetings.
• The proscription followed damage to two RAF Voyager aircraft in June; Palestine Action has permission for a High Court review in November as UN and rights groups criticise applying terrorism laws to protest activity.