Two terrorism arrests after demonstrators show support for Palestine Action

Police confirmed two people have been arrested under the Terrorism Act after protesters displayed signs in support of the banned organisation Palestine Action at a demonstration in Edinburgh.

Demonstrators bearing signs saying, “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”, sat down outside the main UK Government building in Edinburgh on Saturday.

While there were two arrests, the force said evidence from Saturday’s demonstration was being reviewed, and future action could be expected.

However, the situation contrasted with a similar demonstration in London, where violent clashes broke out, with the Met Police confirming about 150 people had been arrested.

The protest comes after the UK Government made Palestine Action a proscribed organisation in July this year, meaning membership or support for the organisation is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Police Scotland said afterwards that two men, aged 67 and 82, had been arrested in connection with the Terrorism Act.

With other demonstrations taking place in Edinburgh, including an anti-immigration protest and a counter rally, it added that a a 63-year-old man had been arrested in connection with a hate crime.

However, the force stressed further action could be expected after hundreds of protesters gathered outside the UK Government’s main office in the capital, many bearing signs declaring support for Palestine Action.

Police Scotland said that due to large crowds, it had “carefully assessed the circumstances and prioritised public safety and evidence gathering”.

This evidence is being reviewed, the force said, adding that further action was expected.

Chief Superintendent David Robertson said: “While these protests were conducted peacefully and largely without incident, there were a number of offences identified relating to the Terrorism Act.

“Substantial evidence of these offences was gathered at the time which will form the basis of a post incident investigation.”

He added: “Police Scotland is a rights-based organisation and our role is to ensure public safety while balancing the rights of protesters who wish to peacefully demonstrate.

“Policing in Scotland has strong relationships with the public and we are grateful for the ongoing support of our communities.”

Ahead of Saturday’s protest, Police Scotland vowed it would enforce the law in a “proportionate way”.

A spokesperson for the force said: “We know there are strong feelings towards the situation in Palestine and people continue to express their views about that through protest and demonstrations without breaking counter-terrorism laws.

“The key difference is showing support for Palestine Action Group as it is an offence under the Terrorism Act 2000 to be a member of a proscribed organisation or to invite or express support for them.”

However, Stop the War Scotland, the organisers of Saturday’s demo in Edinburgh, said the “the contrast between the conduct of Police Scotland in Edinburgh with the heavy-handed intervention by truncheon-wielding police arresting Defend Our Juries volunteers in London creates an absurd inconsistency”.

The group added that this showed the “unviability” of legislation which has been “denounced by campaigners as a scandalous authoritarian attack on the right to protest”.

As the demonstration took place, anti-immigration campaigners also staged a separate protest in the capital.

Among the Union flags at that event, outside the Scottish Parliament, was one emblazoned with the words “Stop the Boats”.

However, the campaign group Stand Up to Racism Scotland said that there were three times as many people at the counter protest it arranged.