Met Police haul in 532 protesters over Central London placard crackdown
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Arrested individuals were processed at two Westminster sites: 320 were bailed with conditions barring them from related demonstrations, while 212 were taken to custody suites for further processing, mostly due to refusal to provide details or for being already on bail.
Metropolitan Police have confirmed that 532 people were arrested during a large-scale policing operation in central London on Saturday, following demonstrations linked to Palestine Action.
Authorities said 522 of the arrests were for displaying placards supporting the group, a proscribed organisation under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
One arrest occurred before the march began at Russell Square, while the rest took place in Parliament Square.
The remaining 10 arrests included six for assaulting officers, none of whom sustained serious injuries, two for breaching Section 14 Public Order Act conditions, one for obstructing a constable, and one for a racially aggravated public order offence.
The average age of those arrested was 54, with the group comprising 263 men, 261 women, and eight people identifying as non-binary or undisclosed.
Police also noted that 30 of those arrested had been detained at previous London protests in support of Palestine Action.
Arrested individuals were processed at two Westminster sites: 320 were bailed with conditions barring them from related demonstrations, while 212 were taken to custody suites for further processing, mostly due to refusal to provide details or for being already on bail.
As of Sunday afternoon, 18 people remained in custody but were expected to be released soon.
Footage shared online appeared to show some bailed protesters returning to Parliament Square. The Met said officers focused on individuals still committing offences, and they are confident none rejoined the placard-holding protest.
The force’s Counter Terrorism Command is now preparing case files, with charges requiring approval from the Crown Prosecution Service and, in some instances, the Attorney General.
This follows the first three charges in England and Wales for Section 13 offences, relating to an earlier July protest.
Age data shows arrests spanned generations: six were aged 17–19, while 147 were aged 60–69 and 97 were aged 70–79.
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