British police arrested Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg in central London on Tuesday during a pro Palestinian protest, according to UK based campaign group Prisoners for Palestine.
The group said Thunberg was detained under the UK Terrorism Act after holding a placard supporting Palestine Action prisoners. The British government has officially designated Palestine Action as a banned organization.
The arrest has drawn attention because of Thunberg’s global profile and because it comes amid heightened scrutiny of protests linked to the war in Gaza, according to Reuters.
A spokesperson for the City of London Police said officers arrested a 22 year old woman at the scene for displaying a sign in support of a proscribed organization. Police also detained two other individuals for throwing red paint at a nearby building.
Prisoners for Palestine said the building was targeted because it was used by an insurance company they claim provides services to the British subsidiary of Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems. The insurance company did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a statement, the campaign group said Thunberg’s placard read support for Palestine Action prisoners and opposition to genocide. Israel has consistently rejected accusations of genocide in Gaza.
Thunberg rose to international attention in 2018 after staging weekly climate protests outside Sweden’s parliament, which sparked a global youth movement.
Her activism has increasingly intersected with broader political causes. In October, Israeli authorities detained Thunberg and hundreds of other activists after they attempted to reach Gaza aboard aid vessels as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. She was later expelled from Israel.
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Last year, a British court cleared Thunberg of a public order offense related to an earlier London protest, ruling that police had exceeded their authority at the time, according to court documents cited by the BBC.
The latest arrest comes as UK authorities tighten enforcement around demonstrations connected to banned groups, particularly near diplomatic and financial institutions.
Police have not yet confirmed whether charges will be filed against Thunberg following Tuesday’s detention. Officials said investigations into the protest activity are ongoing.