UK police have arrested 66 people near the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Sunday for allegedly showing support for Palestine Action, a proscribed terrorist organisation.
According to Merseyside Police, some demonstrators displayed material in support of the group, which was banned in July after claiming responsibility for damaging two planes at the Brize Norton air force base.
The protest, which drew about 100 people, was largely silent, with participants holding signs reading: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” Two of the detainees were later released, while 64 remain on bail pending further investigation. The arrested individuals ranged in age from 21 to 83.
Campaign group Defend Our Juries criticised the arrests, urging Labour to address the ongoing Israel–Hamas conflict by “imposing blanket sanctions on Israel including stopping the flow of arms from factories in this country.”
Several protesters spoke out about their motivations. Keith Hackett, 71, a former Labour councillor in Liverpool, said he risked arrest because he was “ashamed of how Labour is acting.” Meanwhile, actor and activist Tayo Aluko, 63, accused the government of “planting fear in citizens” while ignoring calls to hold Israel accountable.
Amnesty International UK condemned the police response. Kerry Moscogiuri, the group’s Director of Communications and Campaigns, said: “It’s clearly both ridiculous and seriously disproportionate for police to be targeting and arresting people for sitting down, quietly holding a sign.”
Israel has consistently denied accusations of genocide in its war with Hamas in Gaza.