London police arrested over 175 individuals on Saturday, October 4, 2025, during protests in support of the banned group Palestine Action. The demonstrations, held in Trafalgar Square and on Westminster Bridge, proceeded despite urgent appeals from the Prime Minister, Home Secretary, and senior police officials to cancel them in the wake of a deadly terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester just two days prior. This news is trending across major outlets as the UK grapples with heightened security concerns and the right to protest.
Protests Continue Amidst National Grief
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that 175 arrests were made by mid-afternoon, with six individuals detained for unfurling a banner on Westminster Bridge in support of Palestine Action, and 169 others arrested in Trafalgar Square. Organizers, operating under the banner of Defend Our Juries, stated that their protest against the government’s ban on Palestine Action was proceeding because “cancelling peaceful protests lets terror win.” They estimated that around 1,000 people gathered for a silent vigil in Trafalgar Square, holding signs that read: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had issued a public plea urging those considering attending weekend protests to “recognise and respect the grief of British Jews.” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed these sentiments, calling any protests held so immediately after the attack “fundamentally un-British” and “dishonourable.” Jewish groups also voiced concerns, describing the timing as “phenomenally tone-deaf.”
Despite these appeals, Defend Our Juries refused to postpone the demonstration, arguing that it was a protest against the ban itself and a stand against “killing and against oppression, and for peace and justice for all.”
Background: Palestine Action and its Proscription
Palestine Action, a direct action network founded in 2020, was officially proscribed as a terrorist organization by the UK government on July 5, 2025. The decision followed intelligence assessments highlighting the group’s use of, or threat of, action involving serious damage to property, including the vandalism of Royal Air Force aircraft at Brize Norton. The group’s stated aim is to end global participation in what it terms Israel’s “genocidal and apartheid regime” and it has targeted companies involved in the UK arms trade with Israel.
The proscription under the Terrorism Act 2000 has been controversial, with civil liberties groups and UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk warning that it risks conflating legitimate protest with terrorism and hindering fundamental freedoms. Since the ban, British police have reported numerous arrests for showing support for Palestine Action, with over 1,600 individuals detained at previous demonstrations before Saturday’s events.
The Manchester Synagogue Attack
The context for the government and police’s urgent calls to cancel the London protests was the devastating terror attack in Manchester on Thursday, October 2, 2025. On Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, a man drove a car into pedestrians before stabbing worshippers at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation synagogue. The attack resulted in three fatalities, including the perpetrator, Jihad al-Shamie, and left three others seriously injured. Counter-terrorism police declared the incident a terrorist attack.
The attack prompted an immediate increase in police presence at synagogues across the UK and heightened security alerts. The timing of the Manchester attack, occurring just days before the 7th anniversary of the October 7th attacks, added a layer of sensitivity and urgency to the government’s appeals.
Police Response and Resource Strain
The Metropolitan Police stated that planning for the Palestine Action protest diverted significant resources away from providing visible reassurance and protective security to communities, particularly Jewish communities, at a time of heightened vulnerability. Police Federation chair Paula Dodds highlighted the exhaustion of officers policing relentless demonstrations, stating, “Our concentration should be on keeping people safe at a time when the country is on heightened alert from a terrorist attack.”
The arrest process itself was described as time-consuming, with many individuals needing to be carried away by multiple officers, underscoring the police’s determination to enforce the ban on supporting a proscribed organization. The total number of arrests in London on Saturday has been cited differently by various sources, with figures ranging from 175 to over 350 by late afternoon, reflecting the scale of the operation.
Broader Implications
Saturday’s events in London underscore the tension between the right to peaceful protest and national security concerns, particularly in the aftermath of a significant terrorist incident. While organizers Defend Our Juries maintain their actions were a vital defense of democracy and freedom of speech against state oppression, authorities emphasized the need for public order and sensitivity towards grieving communities. The news continues to be a developing story, with debates ongoing about the interpretation and application of anti-terrorism legislation to protest groups, and the strain placed on policing resources during times of national crisis. This is a significant piece of news impacting public discourse in London and across the UK.
