Palestine Action protest arrests rise to more than 500

The number of arrests at Saturday’s demonstration in London in support of banned group Palestine Action has risen to 532.

The Metropolitan Police said the majority of arrests – 521 – were for displaying placards in support of Palestine Action at Westminster’s Parliament Square, and one at a Palestine Coalition march.

Six arrests were for assaulting police officers, two for breaching Public Order Act conditions, one for obstructing a constable and one for a racially aggravated public order offence.

It was the biggest protest since the government proscribed the group in July under the Terrorism Act, making membership of or support for it a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

On Sunday the Metropolitan Police said the average age of those arrested was 54, and that its counter terrorism team was now working on bringing charges against those accused of supporting Palestine Action.

The force said: “Over the coming days and weeks, officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command will work to put together the case files required to secure charges against those arrested as part of this operation.”