Eighteen arrested after Palestine Action protest outside New Scotland Yard

Eighteen people have been arrested on suspicion of supporting Palestine Action after a demonstration outside New Scotland Yard.

The protest at the Metropolitan Police's headquarters on Saturday comes days after the force said it would resume arrests against anyone displaying support for the proscribed organisation.

The Met announced that arrests were under way outside its central London base in a post on X, accompanied by a picture of officers appearing to detain people on the steps.

Those arrested remained in custody, police said in a later statement.

In February, the High Court ruled against the government over its decision to ban the Palestine Action group under anti-terrorism legislation.

In response, the Met indicated it was subsequently unlikely to make arrests, although police warned that support was still a criminal offence and officers would continue to gather evidence of any potential offences.

But on 26 March, the Met revised its position, saying people would again likely face arrest for shows of support for Palestine Action. This was because the result of the government's appeal against the High Court decision would likely take several months, the force said.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said: "We must enforce the law as it is at the time, not as it might be at a future date. We must do that consistently and without fear or favour."

More than 2,700 people have been arrested for allegedly expressing support for Palestine Action since it was banned last year under the Terrorism Act 2000 by then-home secretary Yvette Cooper.

Those convicted of supporting a proscribed organisation face a maximum 14-year prison sentence.

The trials of hundreds arrested since the High Court decision remain on hold while the legal battle over whether the group should have been banned continues.