Organisers say detained demonstrators include ‘vicars and priests, war veterans and descendants of Holocaust survivors’.Published On 7 Sep 20257 Sep 2025Authorities in London have arrested nearly 900 people during a protest in support of the banned group Palestine Action, police say.The new tally, announced on Sunday, highlights the strict approach that police have taken against the demonstrators, who organisers insisted were nonviolent.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listThe Metropolitan Police said they arrested 890 people on Saturday, including 857 on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed group. Thirty-three others were detained for allegedly assaulting officers and other public order offences.Defend Our Juries, the campaign group that organised Saturday’s protest, rejected police claims that the demonstrators were violent.“Among the 857 arrestees were vicars and priests, war veterans and descendants of Holocaust survivors, retired teachers and healthcare workers,” the group said in a statement.It accused the police of making “many false claims and attempts to smear the protesters” to justify arresting peace demonstrators with signs that read: “I oppose genocide – I support Palestine Action.”“While the Met has failed to provide any evidence backing up their claims, video footage clearly shows the Met violently arresting people, wielding their batons and pushing people to the ground,” Defend Our Juries said.“We’re nonviolent, how about you?”The Press Association news agency reported that police drew batons during clashes with protesters. Officers forced their way through the crowd while carrying arrested demonstrators and were seen in shouting confrontations with demonstrators.Water and plastic bottles were thrown at police, the agency said, while several protesters fell in a crush. One man was photographed with blood streaming down his face after being arrested. Advertisement Deputy Assistant Police Commissioner Claire Smart said …
