Dozens arrested around UK at protests to support Palestine Action group

London: British police arrested dozens of people for supporting a banned Palestinian rights organisation on Saturday as protests over the govern ment's decision to outlaw the group continued for a third weekend. Waving placards reading “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action,” demonstrators gathered in London, Manchester, Edin burgh, Bristol, Londonderry and Truro.

The government moved to ban Palestine Action after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20 to protest British military support for Israel's war with Hamas. The activists sprayed red paint into the jet engines of two huge tanker planes and caused further damage with crow bars.

Parliament passed legislation earlier this month designating Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, meaning membership in the group or support for its actions are now pun ishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Police announced an in creased presence in central London ahead of the protests, saying they would protect the right to peace ful protest but would act swiftly if demonstrators violated the law. Brize Norton in Oxfordshire on June 20 to protest British military support for Israel's war with Hamas.

The activ ists sprayed red paint into the jet engines of two huge tanker planes and caused further damage with crow bars. Parliament passed leg islation earlier this month designating Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, meaning membership in the group or support for its actions are now pun ishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Police announced an increased presence in cen tral London ahead of the “Those who see this as an opportunity to test the limits of the law by expressing support for Palestine Action, whether at a standalone protest or as part of the Palestine Coalition protest, will likely be committing an offense and will very likely be arrested,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said in a state ment released Thursday.

Supporters of Palestine Action are challenging the ban, with the High Court in London scheduled to con sider the case on Monday.(AP)