London’s Trafalgar Square became the epicentre of mass arrests on Saturday as hundreds were detained during protests backing the outlawed activist network, Palestine Action. Despite government pleas to postpone all demonstrations following Thursday’s deadly synagogue attack in Manchester, crowds gathered in defiance — turning central London into a tense show of dissent and policing.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed 492 arrests by nightfall, with most accused of supporting a proscribed organisation. Those held ranged in age from 18 to 89. Six others were detained earlier on Westminster Bridge after unfurling a banner expressing solidarity with the banned group, while four additional arrests were made for unrelated offences including public disorder and common assault.
Police described the operation as logistically demanding, explaining that “many of those arrested refused to walk out of the square and had to be carried,” a process requiring several officers per individual.
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The day’s demonstrations were organised by Defend Our Juries, who estimated around a thousand participants. The group said the gathering was a “silent vigil” against the government’s July decision to outlaw Palestine Action. Participants read aloud the names of Palestinian children killed in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had earlier urged restraint, asking demonstrators to “respect the grief of British Jews” still mourning victims of the synagogue attack. Jewish leaders also condemned the timing.
However, Zoe Cohen, a member of Defend Our Juries and herself Jewish, defended the protest, saying grief and empathy could coexist. “I’m mourning the lives lost in the Manchester synagogue attack,” she said, “and also grieving for the hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who have been murdered, displaced, or starved in Gaza. Compassion is not limited.” She added that cancelling the vigil “would have meant letting terror win.”
Authorities deployed 1,500 officers to manage the protests, citing risks of confrontation. Later in the evening, a separate group attempted to march from Whitehall towards Parliament Square but was stopped by police invoking the Public Order Act, confining demonstrators to Richmond Terrace.
Among those arrested was a vicar seen holding a placard reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” As she was carried away, some onlookers shouted “shameful,” while others thanked officers “for protecting us.”
By 10 p.m., police reported 297 detainees still in custody.