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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 22:21 UTC, 31 October 2026 · 4 reports from 4 outlets · 30 one-source

Image from TRT World: British police arrest 139 Palestine Action activists ahead of Supreme Court appeal

Image: TRT World

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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)

  1. 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 1 hr ago
  2. 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. 2 hrs ago
23 earlier changes
  1. Story opened Hundreds protested outside the US Embassy in London against the Palestine Action ban, and police arrested 48 people. 3 hrs ago

What to watch

What is scheduled or expected next, from the ledger.

  1. Supreme Court appeal hearing on Palestine Action ban

    ExpectedIn 4 days

Two sides

The two media blocs whose accounts of this story differ most, side by side.

Where they part European coverage centres the Met's warning and Commander Slonecki's words, while Middle East coverage foregrounds the arrest tally and Huda Ammori's legal challenge.

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

TRT WorldState mediaAl JazeeraState media

Middle East state media foregrounds the scale of arrests and the legal fight, centring police enforcement and the words of organisers and co-founder Huda Ammori, who is described as branding the ban 'disproportionate and an infringement on human rights'. TRT World leads with '139 Palestine Action activists' arrested ahead of a Supreme Court appeal, while Al Jazeera reports '48 as hundreds protest'. Both outlets detail the ban's terms, noting it renders 'membership or expressions of support a criminal offence' and cite over 4,000 arrests since July 2025.

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

TRT WorldState mediaAl JazeeraState media

Middle East state media foregrounds the scale of arrests and the legal fight, centring police enforcement and the words of organisers and co-founder Huda Ammori, who is described as branding the ban 'disproportionate and an infringement on human rights'. TRT World leads with '139 Palestine Action activists' arrested ahead of a Supreme Court appeal, while Al Jazeera reports '48 as hundreds protest'. Both outlets detail the ban's terms, noting it renders 'membership or expressions of support a criminal offence' and cite over 4,000 arrests since July 2025.

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

John McDonnellLabour Party MPAl JazeeraReceipt

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

Adam SloneckiCommanderThe GuardianReceipt

Receipts

Every claim with the verbatim sentence it came from. Tap a claim to see its sources.

One source 30

Only one outlet so far. Shown, never hidden — treat with care.

The Supreme Court will hold a two-day hearing on Wednesday after a June Court of Appeal ruling supporting the government. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori has mounted a legal challenge against the proscription, calling it disproportionate and a human rights infringement. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
The ban makes membership in Palestine Action or expressions of support a criminal offence carrying up to 14 years' imprisonment. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
Defend Our Juries said it is dystopian that over 4,000 arrests have been made under terror laws for peaceful vigils. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
More than 4,000 people have been arrested on suspicion of showing support for Palestine Action since the government outlawed the group in July 2025. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
The Metropolitan Police said officers were continuing to make arrests and that 139 people had been taken into custody. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
London's Metropolitan Police began detaining demonstrators shortly after hundreds began a lunchtime mass action outside the US Embassy. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
British police arrested at least 139 supporters of Palestine Action after protests in London and Edinburgh. One source: TRT WorldTRT World · #
Protesters also gathered outside the US consulate in Edinburgh, and there have been no reports of arrests there. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
Labour Party MP John McDonnell says the government made the wrong decision in proscribing Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
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. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
A Supreme Court appeal challenging Palestine Action's proscription is due on Wednesday. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
London's Metropolitan Police said the majority of arrests were for expressing support for a proscribed organisation. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
The ban on Palestine Action came into effect in July last year under then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
Hundreds of people gathered outside the United States embassy in London on Saturday to oppose the ban on Palestine Action. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
London police arrested at least 48 people after protesters defied a warning not to attend a rally against the proscription of Palestine Action. One source: Al JazeeraAl Jazeera · #
  • “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. One source: TASSTASS · #
The UK Supreme Court holds hearings next week on Palestine Action's appeal against its ban. One source: TASSTASS · #
Demonstrators carried banners reading "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action." One source: TASSTASS · #
Demonstrators staged a sit-in in front of the US Embassy in London. One source: TASSTASS · #
Hundreds of demonstrators, many of retirement age, are taking part in the rally. One source: TASSTASS · #
Palestine Action is a pro-Palestinian group banned in the UK. One source: TASSTASS · #
A rally in support of Palestine Action is underway outside the US Embassy in London. One source: TASSTASS · #
Defend Our Juries says the Met were terrified of facilitating US embarrassment. One source: The GuardianThe Guardian · #
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. One source: The GuardianThe Guardian · #
Commander Adam Slonecki says those attending the event are essentially meeting to purposefully commit a crime. One source: The GuardianThe Guardian · #
The Metropolitan police warned demonstrators ahead of the London gathering that they face arrest as part of a robust policing operation. One source: The GuardianThe Guardian · #
Another demonstration was scheduled for the US consulate near Holyrood in Edinburgh. One source: The GuardianThe Guardian · #
More than 100 people gathered outside the US embassy in Battersea, south London. One source: The GuardianThe Guardian · #
Police have started making arrests at the first mass demonstration opposing the proscription of Palestine Action under Andy Burnham's premiership. One source: The GuardianThe Guardian · #

Ask about this story

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Watch

News video from the outlets covering this story.

Palestine Action supporters arrested outside US embassy in London

Al Jazeera ·

Palestine Action supporters arrested outside US embassy in London

Al Jazeera ·

Ghost edits

Changes outlets made to their articles after publishing, caught by re-reading them.

  • The GuardianSubstantive edit

    BeforeMore than 100 protest against Palestine Action ban outside US embassy in London

    AfterAlmost 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.

    RemovedPolice 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.

    Read the article as it stands now

  • Al JazeeraSubstantive edit

    BeforeLondon police arrest 48 as hundreds protest Palestine Action ban

    AfterLondon 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.

    RemovedPolice 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.

    Read the article as it stands now

All sources

4 reports from 4 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

TRT World State media

TürkiyeOwner: Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT)Paid by: Turkish state budget + advertising

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From the Faultline desk

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30 one-source4 outletsUpdated