UK police arrest dozens at London jail protest calling for release of Palestine Action prisoners
British police arrested at least 86 protesters outside a London prison during a demonstration demanding the release of Palestine Action prisoners, including a young activist who reportedly resumed a hunger strike. The gathering focused on the group’s designation and ongoing cases, while officers moved in to detain participants as the crowd pressed its demands.
U.K. police arrested at least 86 people during a protest outside a London jail where demonstrators gathered to demand the release of prisoners linked to Palestine Action. The protest took place at Wormwood Scrubs in west London, with participants calling attention to several activists who remain jailed as they await trial and arguing that the government’s treatment of the group is politically motivated.
Organizers and supporters highlighted the case of Muhammad Umer Khalid, described as a 22-year-old political prisoner who reportedly restarted a hunger strike roughly two weeks earlier. Accounts said he had previously been on hunger strike since November and paused briefly in December after health complications, before resuming the action as supporters urged authorities to revisit his detention.
Video posted from the scene showed police pushing protesters to the ground and placing some in handcuffs as the crowd attempted to hold position near the prison. Demonstrators chanted and held signs calling for releases, framing the protest as a response to what they see as heavy-handed policing and an increasingly restrictive political climate around pro-Palestinian activism.
The dispute is tied to the British government’s decision to ban Palestine Action under terrorism legislation, a move supporters say is intended to criminalize direct action and deter solidarity campaigning. Officials and critics of the group, by contrast, have argued that the ban is necessary and that enforcement measures are justified given allegations connected to the group’s activities.
The arrests add to tensions in Britain over protest rights and policing tactics, especially as demonstrations linked to Gaza and wider Middle East politics continue to draw large numbers. Civil liberties advocates have warned that broad restrictions and aggressive enforcement can escalate conflict rather than reduce it, while police leaders often cite public order concerns and security risks.
Court proceedings for the jailed activists are still pending, and supporters say they will maintain pressure through protests and legal advocacy. The government has not signaled it will reverse the ban, leaving the issue likely to remain contentious as trials move forward and more demonstrations are planned.