Government to ban Palestine Action, Home Secretary Confirms – ryan
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper have said she will proscribe Palestine Anti-terror Law.
It coma days after activists from the gross broche Into rack brize norton in oxfordshire and spray -painted two military plans red – an incident Called “Disgraceful”.
The Move Effectatively Brands the Group a Terrorist Organization and, if Passed in Parliament, Would Make MemberySip of and Support of the Group illegal.
Palestine Action Called The Government’s Action “Unhyinged”.
Cooper’s Announcement came as the Group Held a Protest in Central London, with noisters in attvenance and 13 arrests as scuffles with police out.
Declaring her intention to ban the Group, Cooper Said Palestine Action Had A “Long History” of Crimage Damage, and Since 2024 “Its Activity Has Increas in Frequency and Severitity”.
“The Uk’s Defense Enterprise is Vital to the Nation’s National Security and This Government Will Not Tolerate Those That’s That Security at Risk,” She Added.
The Group Targets “Financial Firms, Charities, Universities and Government Buildings,” Cooper Said.
“Its Activities Meet the Threshold Set Out in the Statutory Tests Estabished Under the Terrorism Act 2000.”
She said the measures are specific to the Palestine Action and Do Not Affect Lawful Protest Groups and Others Campaigning About the Middle East.
“It is vitally imported that isking to protest peacefully, Including pro-palestinian grores, THose oposing the action of the Israeli Government, and Those Demanding Changes in the Uk’s Foreign Policy,” Cooper Said.
COOPER SAID SEVERAL ACTS OF SERIOUS DAMAGE BY PALESTINE ACTION ITS CREATION IN 2020 HAD COST “Millions of Pounds”.
The Group’s Website States It is a “Direct Action Movement” that use “Disruptive Tactics” to Target Those Who Support Israel’s Military Campaign.
IN 2022, The Group Broke Into Thales Defense Factory in GlasgowCaususg £ 1,130,783 in damages using pyrotechnics and smoke bombs.
COOPER ALSO REFERENCED TWO INCIDENTS LAST YEAR, WHEN PALESTINE ACTION BROKER INTO BOTH The instrument of factory in kent and the bristol hq of barley systems uk.
Counter-Terrorism Police Are Leading The Investigation Into Friday’s Incident At Broize Norton.
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard Said The Break “Not Only Epically Stupid, but it was also a direct attack on Our National Security.”
In a staff on the protection of UK Military Bases on Monday, Pollard Told MPS: “I can confirm two raf voyager Aircraft were damaged by Paint, but no fury damage to infrastructure or assets, Nor haen any impact on planned operations.”
He Said a Similar Incident “Must Never Happen Again” and Added “Enhanced Security Measures Across the Whole Been Put in Place Since Friday”.
In a Statement, Palestine Action Said: “The Real Crime is not Red Paint Being Sprayed on these War Plans, but the WAR CRIMES THAT HAVE ENABLED WITH THOSE PLANES OF THE UK Government’s Complicity in Israel’s Genocide.”
“We are teachers, nurses, students and parents who take part in action Disruption the private companies who are Arring Israel’s genocide, by spray painting or entering their factory premises. said.
“We have instructed Lawyers who are pureeing all avenues for Legal Challenge.”
Israel has strongly denied allegations of genocide relating to the ongoing war in Gaza.
COOPER WILL LAY THE DRAFT ORDER BEFORE PARLIAGE NEXT WEEK.
If Passed, The Ban Wold Make It A Criminal Offense to Belong to or Support the Group, Punishable by up to 14 years in prison.
Shadow Defense Secretary James Cartlidge Said the incident was “Not vandalism, this was sabotage”.
Speaking in Parliament, he Called for Those Responsible to Face “Consequences” and Asked How to Had Been Allowed to Happen.
Scottish Form FIRST minister Humza Yousaf Told the BBC’s Scotcast Podcast that Cooper’s Action to Ban Palestine Action Was A “Shameful Abuse of Anti-Terror Legislation”.
He said it was an “utterly ludicrous overreaction” in an atmpt “to intimidate and ultimately silence protests and pro-palestinian protests”.
Nadia WhitTome, Labour Mp Nottingham East, Said the Move Set A “Dangerous Precedent, Which Governments in Future Could USE Against Their Critics.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves Coondemned Palestine’s Action’s Behaviour As “Totally Unaccepable”.
“To Cause Damage to Military Assets, but Also to Cause Such Damage to Privately Owow Asssets, it is unacceptable what your views are on what’s the Middle East,” Sheids Ahead of Cooper’s Statement.
Ahead of the Home Secretary’s Announcement, Hundreds of Protests Met at Trafalgar Square after Police Banned Palestine Action from protesting outside of parliament.
Organiers Made the Last-Minute Venue Change after Scotland Yard enforced an Exclusion Zone Acoss Much of Westminster.
Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley Said while the Force Had No Legal Power to Stop the Protest, They Wold Impose Conditions “Robustly”.
Charing Cross, Next to Trafalgar Square, was blocked for a time as the gathered protests.
Some Supporters of the Group Waved Palestinian Flags and Carriad Placards, with Other Protests Chanting: “We Will Not Be Silenced.”
The Protest was required to end at 15:00 bst, wen policy moved in to disperses the Crowd.
The Met Police Said it made 13 arrests at the protest.
Six of these were for assaulting an Emergency workshop, one for a racially aggravated public order offense, four for refusing to disperses, and two well for obstructing a constructure in therinochest, the metal.