London, Sept 7 (V7N) – Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of London on Saturday demanding that authorities lift restrictions on the pro-Palestinian activist network Palestine Action. The protest, organized by the campaign group Defend Our Juries, drew about 1,500 participants to Parliament Square, where clashes broke out with police, resulting in more than 425 arrests.

According to reports from Al Jazeera and the UK’s Press Association, police moved in after scuffles escalated. Videos posted on X by Defend Our Juries showed officers forcibly restraining protesters, with captions accusing police of violently knocking people to the ground. The group also alleged that demonstrators were detained simply for holding placards reading, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

During the confrontation, police reportedly used batons, and footage showed one protester bleeding from the face after being detained. Witnesses said water bottles and plastic containers were thrown at officers as verbal altercations intensified. Several protesters fell to the ground under the weight of the crowd.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests, citing offenses that included assaulting officers and expressing support for a banned organization. In a statement on X, the force said officers faced “extraordinary levels of violence,” including being punched, kicked, spat on, and targeted with bricks and bottles, in addition to verbal abuse.

The mass arrests have drawn criticism from rights groups and campaigners, who argue that the policing tactics reflect a broader effort to silence voices protesting UK policy on Palestine. The incident has reignited debates over free speech, public assembly, and the government’s handling of pro-Palestinian activism in Britain.

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