London police detain 139 protesters outside US embassy
Police in London report that 139 demonstrators were arrested during a lunchtime protest outside the US Embassy on 31 Oct, after the number initially given rose from 48. The crowd, estimated at over 100 people, displayed signs opposing genocide and supporting the banned group Palestine Action. The UK designated the group as a terrorist organisation in July 2025, making membership punishable by up to 14 years in prison. A two‑day Supreme Court hearing on the ban’s legality begins on 4 Nov, while parallel demonstrations occur at the US consulate in Edinburgh.
Key facts
- Co‑founder Huda Ammori is contesting the ban as disproportionate and a human‑rights breach.
- The ban places Palestine Action on the same list as Hamas and Hezbollah.
- Nearly 4,000 arrests have been made since the group was proscribed in July 2025.
- Police Scotland is probing individuals wearing supportive apparel at the Edinburgh consulate.
- The US government sanctioned Palestine Action in August, labeling it a terror group.
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Why it matters
The arrests highlight enforcement of the UK terror ban ahead of a key legal challenge.
What changed
First published from The Guardian, Middle East Eye, Al-Monitor, CBS News and Al Jazeera English