EuropeDevelopingDay 1
London protests against Palestine Action ban
Hundreds protested outside the US Embassy in London against the Palestine Action ban, and police arrested 48 people.
Updated 19:09 UTC, 31 October 2026 · 3 reports from 3 outlets · 22 one-source
Image: Al Jazeera
Read it your way
Loading the summary…
Written by AI only from the receipts on this page; each number links to the claim that line rests on.
People, places & organisations
What changed
Last 48 hours, newest first (times UTC)
-
Ghost edit The Guardian World edited "Almost 140 arrested at protest against Palestine Action ban outside US embassy i": Headline changed from "More than 100 protest" to "Almost 140 arrested"; text added 160 arrests at Liverpool, faith leader quote, Miliband video, supreme court appeal 4 November, and Mahmood
-
Ghost edit Al Jazeera edited "London police arrest 139 as hundreds protest Palestine Action ban": Arrest count updated from 48 to 139 in headline and text; McDonnell quote no longer tied to earlier police statement.
15 earlier changes
-
Story opened Hundreds protested outside the US Embassy in London against the Palestine Action ban, and police arrested 48 people.
What to watch
What is scheduled or expected next, from the ledger.
Supreme Court appeal hearing on Palestine Action ban
Two sides
The two media blocs whose accounts of this story differ most, side by side.
Where they part European coverage centres police warnings and Commander Slonecki's words, while Middle East coverage leads with the 48 arrests and the 4,000 detained since July 2025.
European media
The GuardianNon-profit
The Guardian foregrounds the protest itself and the policing response, centring the Met's warnings and the words of Commander Adam Slonecki, who says attendees are 'essentially meeting to purposefully commit a crime.' It gives space to organisers Defend Our Juries, quoting their claim the Met were 'terrified of facilitating US embarrassment,' and notes a planned Edinburgh demonstration. It reports 'more than 100' gathered, while the state line cites hundreds and 48 arrests.
Middle East state media
Al JazeeraState media
Al Jazeera foregrounds the scale of the crackdown, leading with the arrest figure and quoting police that 'the majority of arrests have been for expressing support for a proscribed organisation'. It centres organisers and critics, citing Defend Our Juries on more than 4,000 detained since July 2025 and a speaker saying the government 'made the wrong decision in proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation'. It also notes protests at the US consulate in Edinburgh with 'no reports of arrests there'.
How it’s being told
One card per media bloc. Each summary is written only from that bloc’s own headlines and quotes.
Russian state media
TASSState media
TASS foregrounds the rally itself, reporting from the scene that a demonstration is 'underway outside the US Embassy in London' and noting that 'hundreds of demonstrators, many of retirement age, are taking part.' It centres the protesters' actions and words, describing a sit-in and banners reading 'I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action,' while also citing US sanctions and upcoming UK Supreme Court hearings on the group's appeal.
European media
The GuardianNon-profit
The Guardian foregrounds the protest itself and the policing response, centring the Met's warnings and the words of Commander Adam Slonecki, who says attendees are 'essentially meeting to purposefully commit a crime.' It gives space to organisers Defend Our Juries, quoting their claim the Met were 'terrified of facilitating US embarrassment,' and notes a planned Edinburgh demonstration. It reports 'more than 100' gathered, while the state line cites hundreds and 48 arrests.
Middle East state media
Al JazeeraState media
Al Jazeera foregrounds the scale of the crackdown, leading with the arrest figure and quoting police that 'the majority of arrests have been for expressing support for a proscribed organisation'. It centres organisers and critics, citing Defend Our Juries on more than 4,000 detained since July 2025 and a speaker saying the government 'made the wrong decision in proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation'. It also notes protests at the US consulate in Edinburgh with 'no reports of arrests there'.
In their words
What the people at the centre of this story said, word for word, with the article each quote appeared in.
made the wrong decision in proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation
anyone officers consider to be playing a key role in organising the event, giving instructions to others and/or providing logistical support will very likely be committing an offence and face enforcement action
Receipts
Every claim with the verbatim sentence it came from. Tap a claim to see its sources.
One source 22
Only one outlet so far. Shown, never hidden — treat with care.
Protesters also gathered outside the US consulate in Edinburgh, and there have been no reports of arrests there.
-
“Protesters also gathered outside the US consulate in Edinburgh, the Scottish capital. There have been no reports of arrests there.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsLondon police arrest 48 as hundreds protest Palestine Action ban
Labour Party MP John McDonnell says the government made the wrong decision in proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
-
“He added that he believes the government “made the wrong decision in proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation”.”
Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesLondon police arrest 48 as hundreds protest Palestine Action ban
Defend Our Juries said Saturday's arrests took the total number detained for defying the Palestine Action ban to more than 4,000 since July 2025.
-
“Defend Our Juries, which organised the protests, said Saturday’s arrests took the total number of people detained for defying the Palestine Action ban to more than 4,000 since July 2025.”
Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesLondon police arrest 48 as hundreds protest Palestine Action ban
A Supreme Court appeal challenging Palestine Action's proscription is due on Wednesday.
-
“The demonstration comes ahead of a Supreme Court appeal on Wednesday challenging the campaign group’s proscription.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsLondon police arrest 48 as hundreds protest Palestine Action ban
London's Metropolitan Police said the majority of arrests were for expressing support for a proscribed organisation.
-
““The majority of arrests have been for expressing support for a proscribed organisation. Officers remain at the scene and are continuing to make arrests.””
Al JazeeraState mediaAttributesLondon police arrest 48 as hundreds protest Palestine Action ban
The ban on Palestine Action came into effect in July last year under then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government.
-
“Hundreds of people gathered outside the United States embassy on Saturday to oppose the ban, which came into effect in July last year under the government of then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsLondon police arrest 48 as hundreds protest Palestine Action ban
Hundreds of people gathered outside the United States embassy in London on Saturday to oppose the ban on Palestine Action.
-
“Hundreds of people gathered outside the United States embassy on Saturday to oppose the ban, which came into effect in July last year under the government of then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsLondon police arrest 48 as hundreds protest Palestine Action ban
London police arrested at least 48 people after protesters defied a warning not to attend a rally against the proscription of Palestine Action.
-
“Police have arrested at least 48 people after protesters defied a warning not to attend a rally in London against the proscription of Palestine Action, which is classified as a “terrorist” organisation under United Kingdom law.”
Al JazeeraState mediaReportsLondon police arrest 48 as hundreds protest Palestine Action ban
US authorities imposed sanctions on Palestine Action in August.
-
“US authorities also imposed sanctions on Palestine Action in August.”
TASSState mediaReportsPalestine Action supporters stage protest outside US Embassy in London
The UK Supreme Court holds hearings next week on Palestine Action's appeal against its ban.
-
“The demonstration comes ahead of UK Supreme Court hearings next week on the group’s appeal against its ban.”
TASSState mediaReportsPalestine Action supporters stage protest outside US Embassy in London
Demonstrators carried banners reading "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."
-
“They staged a sit-in in front of the embassy, carrying banners reading"I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."”
TASSState mediaReportsPalestine Action supporters stage protest outside US Embassy in London
Demonstrators staged a sit-in in front of the US Embassy in London.
-
“They staged a sit-in in front of the embassy, carrying banners reading"I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action."”
TASSState mediaReportsPalestine Action supporters stage protest outside US Embassy in London
Hundreds of demonstrators, many of retirement age, are taking part in the rally.
-
“Hundreds of demonstrators, many of retirement age, are taking part.”
TASSState mediaReportsPalestine Action supporters stage protest outside US Embassy in London
Palestine Action is a pro-Palestinian group banned in the UK.
-
“A rally in support of Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian group banned in the UK, is underway outside the US Embassy in London, a TASS correspondent reports.”
TASSState mediaReportsPalestine Action supporters stage protest outside US Embassy in London
A rally in support of Palestine Action is underway outside the US Embassy in London.
-
“A rally in support of Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian group banned in the UK, is underway outside the US Embassy in London, a TASS correspondent reports.”
TASSState mediaReportsPalestine Action supporters stage protest outside US Embassy in London
Defend Our Juries says the Met were terrified of facilitating US embarrassment.
-
“Defend Our Juries, the group behind the demonstrations, said the Met were “terrified of facilitating US embarrassment”.”
The GuardianNon-profitAttributesMore than 100 protest against Palestine Action ban outside US embassy in London
Commander Adam Slonecki says anyone officers consider key organisers, giving instructions or providing logistical support will very likely be committing an offence and face enforcement action.
-
“He added that “anyone officers consider to be playing a key role in organising the event, giving instructions to others and/or providing logistical support will very likely be committing an offence and face enforcement action”.”
The GuardianNon-profitAttributesMore than 100 protest against Palestine Action ban outside US embassy in London
Commander Adam Slonecki says those attending the event are essentially meeting to purposefully commit a crime.
-
“Commander Adam Slonecki, who is leading the policing operation, said: “All those intending on coming to this event know that supporting a proscribed organisation is unlawful – they are essentially meeting to purposefully commit a crime.”
The GuardianNon-profitAttributesMore than 100 protest against Palestine Action ban outside US embassy in London
The Metropolitan police warned demonstrators ahead of the London gathering that they face arrest as part of a robust policing operation.
-
“Ahead of the London gathering, the Metropolitan police warned those taking part “that they face arrest as part of a robust policing operation”.”
The GuardianNon-profitAttributesMore than 100 protest against Palestine Action ban outside US embassy in London
Another demonstration was scheduled for the US consulate near Holyrood in Edinburgh.
-
“Another demonstration was scheduled for the US consulate near Holyrood in Edinburgh.”
The GuardianNon-profitReportsMore than 100 protest against Palestine Action ban outside US embassy in London
More than 100 people gathered outside the US embassy in Battersea, south London.
-
“More than 100 people gathered outside the US embassy in Battersea, south London, holding signs that read: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.””
The GuardianNon-profitReportsMore than 100 protest against Palestine Action ban outside US embassy in London
Police have started making arrests at the first mass demonstration opposing the proscription of Palestine Action under Andy Burnham's premiership.
-
“Police have started making arrests at the first mass demonstration under Andy Burnham’s premiership opposing the proscription of Palestine Action.”
The GuardianNon-profitReportsMore than 100 protest against Palestine Action ban outside US embassy in London
Ask about this story
Line, our AI correspondent, answers only from the receipts on this page. Every sentence links to the claim behind it.
Ghost edits
Changes outlets made to their articles after publishing, caught by re-reading them.
-
Before
More than 100protest against Palestine Action ban outside US embassy in LondonAfterAlmost 140 arrested at protest against Palestine Action ban outside US embassy in London
Headline changed from "More than 100 protest" to "Almost 140 arrested"; text added 160 arrests at Liverpool, faith leader quote, Miliband video, supreme court appeal 4 November, and Mahmood as home secretary.
Removed
Police start arresting demonstrators with Met commander alleging they are ‘essentially meeting to purposefully commit a crime’ Police have started making arrests at the first mass demonstration under Andy Burnham’s premiership opposing…AddedHe said he had “hoped for better” from Burnham and resigned from the Labour party after Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist group.
-
BeforeLondon police arrest
48as hundreds protest Palestine Action banAfterLondon police arrest 139 as hundreds protest Palestine Action ban
Arrest count updated from 48 to 139 in headline and text; McDonnell quote no longer tied to earlier police statement.
Removed
Police have arrested at least 48 people after protesters defied a warning not to attend a rally in London against the proscription of Palestine Action , which is classified as a “terrorist” organisation under United Kingdom law.AddedPolice have arrested at least 139 people after protesters defied a warning not to attend a rally in London against the proscription of Palestine Action , which is classified as a “terrorist” organisation under United Kingdom law.
All sources
3 reports from 3 outlets — with who owns each outlet and who pays for it.
Al Jazeera State media
QatarOwner: Al Jazeera Media NetworkPaid by: funded by the State of Qatar
TASS State media
RussiaOwner: TASS Russian News Agency (federal state unitary enterprise)Paid by: Russian federal budget + commercial news services
The Guardian Non-profit
United KingdomOwner: Guardian Media Group, owned by the Scott Trust LimitedPaid by: reader contributions + subscriptions + advertising; Scott Trust endowment
Not covered yet by
Associated PressBBCCGTNCNADWEuronewsFinancial TimesForeign PolicyFox NewsFrance 24NPRRTReutersSky NewsSouth China Morning PostSputnikTRT WorldThe New York TimesThe Times of IndiaWION
Outlets we monitor that have not reported this story. Silence can be signal.
From the Faultline desk
Our analysis pieces on this story.
- London Protest Tests the Limits of Britain's Ban on Palestine Action
- Arrests at Battersea: Policing the Ban on Palestine Action
- London's Luxury Real Estate Faces Significant Corrections
- Rising Tide of Antisemitism: London's Arson Attacks Demand Urgent Attention
- Impending Crisis: US Embassy in Baghdad Issues Urgent Evacuation Warning
22 one-source3 outletsUpdated