Greta Thunberg Detained in U.K. at Protest Supporting Palestine Action
The Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was detained on Tuesday under anti-terrorism legislation in the United Kingdom for carrying a sign that the police claimed demonstrated support for the prohibited group Palestine Action, according to her legal representative and protest organizers. At 22 years old, Ms. Thunberg participated in a demonstration in London’s financial area on Tuesday morning that protested the treatment of individuals held in custody prior to trials associated with Palestine Action activities, primarily linked to property damage at firms tied to Israel. Many of those detained have initiated hunger strikes. A video released by the protest’s organizers, a group called Prisoners for Palestine, depicted Ms. Thunberg seated on a sidewalk, holding a handwritten sign that stated, “I support Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.” The footage reveals a police officer requesting her to stand and seizing the sign. While protesters chant “Free, free Palestine,” an individual is heard heckling off camera, stating, “Take the terrorist away.” In a public statement, the City of London Police indicated that a 22-year-old female had been apprehended “for displaying an item (in this instance a placard) in support of a proscribed organization (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.” The statement did not mention Ms. Thunberg’s name, following regulations preventing British police from identifying suspects prior to charges being filed.
In a public statement, Raj Chada, the lawyer for Ms. Thunberg, remarked: “Our client has been detained under the U.K.’s absurd terror laws. The U.K.’s international standing on human rights is in peril while these laws remain active.” Ms. Thunberg rose to global prominence due to her environmental activism as a teenager. This year, she took part in a flotilla that attempted to deliver aid to Gaza by sea, but was intercepted by Israeli authorities. She has shown support for the Prisoners for Palestine group in Britain on her Instagram account. Ms. Thunberg was detained under legislation that has led to the arrest of over 2,000 individuals since the ban on Palestine Action as a terrorist organization was enacted in July. This law criminalizes wearing, carrying, or displaying items that “arouse reasonable suspicion” of supporting banned organizations, with penalties of up to six months in prison. The majority of arrests have occurred due to individuals holding signs that read, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” Palestine Action is the inaugural organization to be labeled a terrorist group under part of the U.K.’s legal definition of terrorism that pertains to “serious damage to property” for political motives, rather than physical violence against individuals. The ban on Palestine Action is currently being contested in the High Court in London by its co-founder, who claims it to be unlawful and disproportionate.
The organization has utilized property damage, especially spraying red paint, as a method during protests that predominantly targeted subsidiaries of the Israeli weapons firm Elbit Systems, as well as other companies accused of connections to the Gaza conflict. Tuesday’s demonstration occurred outside an insurance company’s offices in the City of London, known as the financial district. Organizers of the protests asserted that the company rendered services to Elbit Systems U.K. In a statement, the City of London Police disclosed that the demonstration commenced around 7 a.m. on Tuesday, where protesters employed hammers and red paint to cause damage to the building. In addition to Ms. Thunberg, both a man and a woman were arrest on allegations of criminal damage.
Published: 2025-12-23 13:34:00
source: www.nytimes.com
