A campaign group has said five of its spokespeople have been arrested by counter-terror police as it prepared to announce further protests against the Palestine Action ban.
Defend Our Juries said it still expected more than 1,000 protesters to gather on Saturday in London, with signs declaring “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action”.
The group added that the dawn arrests, made hours before a media conference announcing more demonstrations, were an “unprecedented assault on free speech”.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests had been made as part of an ongoing investigation into people suspected to be “involved in encouraging support for the proscribed group Palestine Action”.
The force said among those arrested were two men aged 26 and 55, and a 61-year-old woman in London, a 48-year-old woman in Kendal, Cumbria, and a 39-year-old man in Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
Chief Supt Helen Flanagan, head of operations for the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Palestine Action is clearly proscribed as a terrorist group, and those showing support for this particular group, or encouraging others to do so can expect to be arrested, investigated and prosecuted.”
Defend Our Juries said among those detained were a former government lawyer and a law student, which the group described as “scandalous”.
“Despite this dystopian crackdown targeting perceived organisers of peaceful protests, the mass action will go ahead, with 1,000 people pledging to hold signs,” a spokesperson added.
The arrests follows a series of protests over the summer against the ban, in which more than 700 people arrested and 114 charged over alleged support for Palestine Action.
The government banned Palestine Action under terrorism laws after paint was daubed on jets at RAF Brize Norton. Police said the act caused £7m worth of damage.
Membership or support for Palestine Action is now a crime that can lead to up to 14 years in jail.
Last month, Palestine Action won permission to challenge the ban, with the case to be heard at the High Court in November.
The group, among others, argue that the ban breaches the right to free speech and has gagged legitimate protest.
The judge refused an appeal to temporarily lift the ban and it remains proscribed before a full review at the High Court in November.
Kerry Moscogiuri, from rights group at Amnesty International UK, branded the arrests “incredibly concerning” and said those held should be immediately released.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has repeatedly defended the proscription of Palestine Action and has described it as more than a “regular protest group known for occasional stunts”.
