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  "path": "/2026/06/12/72-people-arrested-protest-outside-london-court-28752072/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-12T15:03:46.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
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  "textContent": "To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\nDozens of protesters expressing support for Palestine Action have been arrested outside a court in southeast London.\n\nAround 500 people had gathered to demonstrate outside Woolwich Crown Court today.\n\nFour Palestine Activist supporters are being sentenced at the court over destroying equipment said to be worth over £1.2 million at the Elbit factory in Bristol, an Israeli-based defence firm.\n\nWhile the hearing was proceeding inside, chants of ‘Free Palestine’ were heard outside with a significant police presence.\n\nProtesters were being detained outside Woolwich Crown Court (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire)\n\nProtesters held signs saying ‘Direct Action Saves Lives’ and ‘Direct Action is not Terrorism’ in apparent support for the four activists facing the court.\n\nPolice vans began to pour in to whisk away demonstrators, with the first person arrested at about 1.20pm.\n\nAs each protester was carried away with one officer holding each limb, crowds applauded while others berated the officers.\n\nTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tvideo\n\nUp Next\n\nPrevious Page\n\nNext Page\n\nSome of the chants included ‘you’re complicit in genocide’ and ‘Met police, shame, shame, all the crimes in your name.’\n\nPalestine Action has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK in a widely criticised move.\n\nIt makes it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, with a punishment of up to 14 years in prison.\n\nThe protesters have been accused of showing support for Palestine Action, a proscribed terrorist group (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire)\n\nMetropolitan Police said: ‘A number of arrests have been made during a protest in south east London.\n\n‘Seventy-two people have been arrested for supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation – Palestine Action – at a demonstration outside Woolwich Crown Court.\n\n‘All are currently in police custody.’\n\nCampaign group Defend Our Juries, which is against the proscription of Palestine Action, said: ‘Hundreds of people are willing to be arrested as terrorists to highlight that what is happening to the four young people being sentenced today should absolutely not be happening in a British court of law.\n\nA protester was sitting on the ground outside Woolwich Crown Court (Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire)\n\n‘Saving lives is not terrorism, and the people taking action today, along with leading lawyers, celebrities, teachers and health workers are saying it is dangerous for everyone if the judges are allowed to misuse the law in this way.’\n\nThe High Court ruled in February that the proscription of Palestine Action is unlawful.\n\nBut the ban has remained in place for now during an appeal by the government, which is due to be decided on Monday.\n\n**Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk.** **Or you can submit your videos and pictures here.**\n\n**For more stories like this, check our**  news page**.**\n\n**Follow Metro.co.uk on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates.** **You can now also get Metro.co.uk articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here.**\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "72 people arrested during protest outside London court"
}