The demonstrations took place despite calls from Sir Keir Starmer and police chiefs to cancel the events following the terror attack on a synagogue in Manchester on Thursday.
The Metropolitan Police said six people have been arrested after a banner in support of Palestine Action was draped over Westminster Bridge on Saturday.
Further arrests were made at the protest against the ban on Palestine Action in Trafalgar Square, London. Defend Our Juries said around 1,000 protesters sat for the silent vigil holding handwritten signs that read: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”
Met Police said there was a separate protest group which gathered in Whitehall, blocking the road before trying to march first towards Trafalgar Square, then Parliament Square.
Meanwhile, around 100 pro-Palestine supporters gathered in Manchester City centre for a march organised by Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine.
Scotland Yard chief Sir Mark Rowley had asked for protests to be postponed due to the drain on resources while extra officers are stationed at synagogues and the prime minister urged groups behind the events to “respect the grief of British Jews”.
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Key Points
- Met say 493 people arrested at protest in London today
- Six people arrested over Palestine Action banner on Westminster Bridge
- Around 100 pro-Palestine supporters gather in Manchester for march
- Starmer urges demonstrators to 'respect grief of British Jews'
- Pro-Palestine marches go ahead despite calls for them to be cancelled
- Rallies come after fatal car and stabbing attack at synagogue
Watch: Police arrest scores of protesters in London over support for Palestine Action
21:40
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Rebecca Whittaker
‘Enough is enough’ says chief of Police Federation as ‘exhausted’ officers arrest 493 at Palestine Action protest
21:20
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Rebecca Whittaker
A senior police officer has declared "enough is enough" after “exhausted” officers arrested hundreds of people at a Palestine Action protest in London, days after the Manchester synagogue attack.
Met Police said at least 493 people were arrested for supporting the proscribed group, which was classed by the UK government as a terror organisation earlier this year.
Whitehall protest comes to an end
21:10
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Rebecca Whittaker
The separate protest in Whitehall has also come to an end, according to the Met police.
It comes after police imposed Public Order Act conditions forcing people to leave the area.
Met Police explained earlier that there was a separate protest group which gathered in Whitehall, blocking the road before trying to march first towards Trafalgar Square, then Parliament Square.
The protest in Whitehall has also concluded.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 4, 2025
Officers remain in the area to respond to any incidents.
Met say 493 people arrested at protest in London today
21:04
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Rebecca Whittaker
Metropolitan police said the protest has now ended and they have arrested 493 people.
But this figure could rise as officers continue to process some of those arrested in the final hour.
The policing operation in Trafalgar Square has concluded.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 4, 2025
The current arrest total is 493, but we are continuing to process some of those arrested in the final hour so the number may increase further. pic.twitter.com/L5ezryyIFn
Police arrest more than 440 people over Palestine Action support
20:45
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Rebecca Whittaker
Watch: Madrid protesters gather to support Palestine ahead of 2nd anniversary of war in Gaza
20:30
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Rebecca Whittaker
Pictured: Met Police make more than 400 arrests in Trafalgar Square
20:15
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Rebecca Whittaker
Watch: 'The hurt has been heard' says Andy Burnham at scene of synagogue attack
20:00
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Rebecca Whittaker
Crowds have now dispersed as final arrests made
19:50
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Rebecca Whittaker
Crowds began to disperse as it appeared police had arrested the final people showing support for Palestine Action.
A few dozen remained in Trafalgar Square and waved Palestine flags while H.O.O.D by Kneecap was played on a speaker.
Public Order Act conditions imposed on protest in Whitehall
19:39
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Rebecca Whittaker
Police have imposed Public Order Act conditions on a separate protest group which gathered in Whitehall.
Met Police explained earlier that there was a separate protest group which gathered in Whitehall, blocking the road before trying to march first towards Trafalgar Square, then Parliament Square.
The Public Order Act gives police the power to respond to protests and put restrictions in place. And in this case it means protesters have been told to leave the road.
The Met police said in a post on X that they have been ordered to assemble in Richmond Terrace.
Public Order Act conditions have been imposed on the protest in Whitehall requiring protesters to leave the road and assemble in Richmond Terrace.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 4, 2025
Officers remain in the area to enforce the conditions.
We will reopen the road as soon as it is safe to do so. pic.twitter.com/CUnqIhZ13G
Recap: What we know about the pro-Palestine protest
19:30
,
Rebecca Whittaker
- 355 Arrests have been made at a pro-Palestine protest in London's Trafalgar Square, which proceeded despite calls from politicians and police to reconsider.
- The demonstration, organised by Defend Our Juries, was a silent vigil supporting Palestine Action and reading names of Palestinian children killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and police chiefs urged the cancellation of the protest, citing the recent terror attack in Manchester and the need to respect the grief of British Jews.
- A vicar and two elderly men were among those arrested in London, while a similar protest in Manchester saw pro-Palestinian marchers confronted by counter-protesters.
- Jewish community leaders criticised the protests as "phenomenally tone deaf", though organisers defended their right to protest against what they described as an "ongoing, real-time genocide in Gaza".
Officers are 'emotionally and physically exhausted', says Metropolitan Police Federation
19:20
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Rebecca Whittaker
The chairwoman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents police staff claimed officers policing another protest are "emotionally and physically exhausted".
Paula Dodds said Met police officers should be “keeping people safe at a time when the country is on heightened alert from a terrorist attack,” Sky News reported.
But she claimed officers are having days off cancelled, are working longer shifts or are being moved from other areas to facilitate protests.
'Don’t you know your history,' protesters say to officers from the Police Service Northern Ireland
19:10
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Rebecca Whittaker
Officers from the Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) have assisted in arresting some of the last few protesters.
The officers, in bottle green uniform, were heckled by one woman who shouted “shame on you, don’t you know your history?” as they helped carry a man who had been arrested in Trafalgar Square away from crowds.
There are just a few people left in Trafalgar Square holding signs supporting Palestine Action, as larger crowds watch on.
Pictured: Crowds and arrests at Pro-Palestine demonstration
19:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Met say 442 people arrested over Palestine Action protests in London so far
18:56
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Police have now arrest 442 people for supporting Palestine Action at today’s demonstration in Trafalgar Square.
In a post on X Metropolitan Police added: “A different protest group gathered in Whitehall, blocking the road before trying to march first towards Trafalgar Square, then Parliament Square. Officers have intervened.”
As of 6.30pm officers had arrested 442 people for supporting a proscribed organisation.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 4, 2025
A different protest group gathered in Whitehall, blocking the road before trying to march first towards Trafalgar Square, then Parliament Square. Officers have intervened. pic.twitter.com/PJJuXGMLrF
'I oppose genocide' and 'stop starving Gaza' placards at the protest state
18:50
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Rebecca Whittaker
Demonstrators can be seen waving Palestinian flags and holding various placards.
The majority of people are holdings signs that state “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
Others in the crowd include boards stating: “Stop starving Gaza” and “Scrap the terrorism act”.
'We have the right to protest' but this Pro-Palestine protest is 'different', says UK's policing minister
18:45
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Rebecca Whittaker
People do have the right to protest, but today’s demonstration in Trafalgar Square was different, according to the UK's policing minister.
Sarah Jones explained at the Pro-Palestine protest today people were supporting a prescribed organisation.
She told Sky News: "We have a right to protest, to speak our mind, to speak out on behalf of issues that we care about, but we do not have a right to disrupt, communities in major significant ways.
"Of course, this protest is illegal in and of itself because people are supporting a proscribed organisation. So it's quite different.”
Blind wheelchair user arrested for the third time for supporting Palestine Action
18:40
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Rebecca Whittaker
Mike Higgins, who is 62, blind and uses a wheelchair was one of the hundreds of people arrested today at the Pro-Palestine demonstration.
This was his third time attending a demonstration in support of Palestine Action and it is his third time being arrested under the Terrorism Act.
In a post on X Defend Our Juries shared his message as he was being arrested by police.
“I believe it it my right to protest and at the moment the government is saying that I am a terrorist for wanting to support people who are disrupting the arms trade with Israel,” Mr Higgins said.
Mike Higgins takes part in the mass defiance of the Palestine Action ban once again.
— Defend Our Juries (@DefendourJuries) October 4, 2025
He's now been arrested for a third time under the Terrorism Act. pic.twitter.com/h5PWcnp008
Police carry demonstrators out of Trafalgar Square
18:35
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Rebecca Whittaker
Met Police officers can be seen carrying people out of the protest and into a pen at Trafalgar Square.
The Metropolitan Police have said many of those arrested today won’t walk and need to be carried out of Trafalgar Square, meaning the arrests are taking a long time.
Once demonstrators are carried into the pen many appear to stay laying on the floor, footage from the scene reveals.
Earlier today the pen was full and a police officer was heard telling other officers “no more through here” as more than 20 arrestees waited inside the pen.
'It's absurd police are being wasted on arresting peaceful protesters,' MP says
18:30
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Rebecca Whittaker
Police are being “wasted” on arresting peaceful protesters who are “exercising their democratic rights to oppose genocide,” Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds East said.
In a post on X he called the situation “absurd” and called on the government to overturn the decision to designate Palestine Action as terrorists.
Instead of vital police resources being used to keep communities safe, we have the absurd situation where they're being wasted on arresting peaceful protesters: people simply holding signs and exercising their democratic rights to oppose genocide.
— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) October 4, 2025
This follows the wholly… pic.twitter.com/C8ZhPPdYVZ
100 pro-Palestinian supporters gathered at Manchester event
18:20
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Rebecca Whittaker
A similar event held by Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine also took place today.
After a crowd of about 100 pro-Palestinian supporters gathered outside Manchester Cathedral to listen to speeches, they moved off en masse to march through the city centre.
As they banged drums and chanted “Free Palestine!”, a group of counter-protesters got ahead of them, marching in front and holding a flag saying “F*** Hamas” and shouting “release the hostages”.
Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police Sir Stephen Watson urged would-be attendees at the protest to “consider whether this is really the right time”.
Footage shows elderly man being arrested in Trafalgar Square
18:10
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Rebecca Whittaker
Footage from the Pro-Palestine demonstration shows people shouting “free Palestine” as an elderly man is guided out of the square by Met Police officers.
Defend Our Juries wrote in a post on X: “Support from the crowd for an elderly man being arresting for peacefully opposing genocide and the Palestine Action ban.”
Support from the crowd for an elderly man being arresting for peacefully opposing genocide and the Palestine Action ban.
— Defend Our Juries (@DefendourJuries) October 4, 2025
The proscription has never looked so ridiculous. It must be overturned. pic.twitter.com/NymVDtAPSV
'We are going to win this battle,' said protester as he awaited arrest
18:05
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Rebecca Whittaker
A protester supporting Palestine Action said “we are going to win this battle” as he awaited arrest in Trafalgar Square.
Mike Higgins, 62, who is blind and uses a wheelchair, said he expects to be arrested for holding a poster supporting the banned group as police continue to detain activists.
He explained he attended the demonstration “because of the genocide, the absolute, dreadful inhumanity of the Israeli state in the way that is treating the people of Palestine”.
Asked why he did not heed Sir Keir Starmer’s calls to postpone or cancel today’s action, he said: “Well, I didn’t think he negotiated with terrorists. We’re supposed to be terrorists, aren’t we Sir Keir now, either we are or we’re not.
“If we’re not terrorists, then leave us alone. Let us protest. Let us demonstrate for the right to freedom of speech.”
He added: “We are going to win this battle, by the way, there’s no doubt about that. The problem for me is that I want to win it now to try and bring an end to the suffering in Palestine.”
Amnesty International says arresting hundreds of people at the demonstration is 'not the job of police'
18:00
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Rebecca Whittaker
Kerry Moscogiuri, director of campaigns at human rights group Amnesty International UK, said: “Arresting hundreds of people for peacefully sitting down and holding these signs is not the job of police.
“These arrests are in breach of the UK’s international human rights obligations and should not be happening.”
Demonstration in Trafalgar Square continues
17:50
,
Rebecca Whittaker
The demonstration in Trafalgar Square continues to be full of people holding signs with the same words: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
Crowds of people can be seen in Trafalgar Square where police continue to arrest those holding placards in support of Palestine Action.
The march and protest ended outside Manchester Central Library has come to an end.
More than 100 people gathered and stood in silence as the names and ages of some of the thousands of children killed in the Gaza conflict were read out, before protesters dispersed.
Director of charity which provides protection for the Jewish community called the demonstration 'tone deaf'
17:45
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Rebecca Whittaker
Dave Rich, director of policy at the Community Security Trust charity which provides protection for the Jewish community, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think it’s phenomenally tone deaf, to say the least, for so many people who claim to care about human rights and care about freedoms, to be taking police resources away from protecting the rights and freedoms of Jewish people to live their lives and go to synagogue in safety, all to support a proscribed terrorist organisation, which is not the same thing as supporting the Palestinians.
“And I think it’s remarkably self-absorbed and insensitive, to say the least.”
Met say 355 people arrested over Palestine Action protests in London so far
17:42
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Met Police have arrested 355 people for supporting Palestine Action.
In a post on X the Metropolitan Police said: “The majority of people still remaining in Trafalgar Square are onlookers who are not holding placards in support of Palestine Action.”
As of 5.20pm, 355 people had been arrested for supporting a proscribed organisation.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 4, 2025
The majority of people still remaining in Trafalgar Square are onlookers who are not holding placards in support of Palestine Action.
Arrests continue. pic.twitter.com/c35acVlM9s
Police continue to arrest people supporting banned Palestine Action
17:30
,
Rebecca Whittaker
As a woman continued to read out the names of Palestinian children killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict, police are arresting more people for supporting banned group Palestine Action in Trafalgar Square.
Among those yet to be arrested is Mike Higgins, 62, who is blind and uses a wheelchair.
He has been arrested before for showing support for the proscribed group and is holding a sign with the same words: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”
Protesters attend rally despite calls to cancel following Manchester synagogue attack
17:17
,
Rebecca Whittaker
Watch coverage from the rally in Trafalgar Square here:
Met say those arrested 'won't walk' and need to be carried
17:15
,
Rebecca Whittaker
The Metropolitan Police have said many of those arrested today won’t walk and need to be carried out of Trafalgar Square, meaning the arrests are taking a long time.
As of 3.45pm officers had made 175 arrests for supporting a proscribed organisation.
This includes the six people who unfurled a banner in support of Palestine Action on Westminster Bridge earlier.
In a post on X the Met said: “The arrest phase takes time. Many of those arrested won’t walk out of the square and need to be carried, something that requires a minimum of five officers to do safely.”
Reverend Sue Parfitt is among the 175 to be arrested for the third time
17:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker
83-year-old Reverend Sue Parfitt is among the 175 to be arrested, according to Defend Our Juries, which organised the event.
In a post on X it said has been arrested for the third time for holding a sign which says "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action".
BREAKING: Reverend Sue Parfitt, aged 83, is arrested for the third time for holding a sign which says "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action"
— Defend Our Juries (@DefendourJuries) October 4, 2025
The protestors come from across civil society, united in defying the ban and complicity with genocide. pic.twitter.com/35NHA4vk9d
Greenpeace describes arrests over Palestine Action support as a 'waste of police time'
16:45
,
Tara Cobham
The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Greenpeace UK described the arrests over Palestine Action support a “waste of police time” and called for the judicial review on the proscription of the group to go ahead.
Co-executive director of the charity, Areeba Hamid, said: “Another month, another waste of police time. Police officers must be wondering why they are carrying out these performative arrests instead of protecting our communities after one of the worst antisemitic terror attacks to take place on British soil. If police resources are stretched, perhaps the Home Secretary should ask herself whether they wouldn't be better used fighting real terrorists instead of arresting people for holding placards in protest at a genocide.
“The best thing that can happen now is for the judicial review on the proscription of Palestine Action to go ahead and settle this matter once and for all. Every legal challenge just delays the scrutiny that is needed, and risks hundreds more wrongful arrests.”
Pen used to process people arrested for supporting Palestine Action appears to be full
16:30
,
Tara Cobham
A pen being used to process people who have been arrested for supporting Palestine Action appears to be full.
A police officer was heard telling officers “no more through here” as more than 20 arrestees waited inside the pen.
Many are lying on the concrete as officers search their belongings while they wait to be formally processed.
Daughter of Holocaust survivor, 79, among arrested, Defend Our Juries says
16:08
,
Tara Cobham
A 79-year-old Jewish woman and daughter of a Holocaust survivor is among the 175 to be arrested, according to Defend Our Juries, which organised the event.
The campaign group said this is the third time Elizabeth Morley has been arrested at such a protest.
Protesters chant 'Met Police, you decide: Justice or genocide'
16:07
,
Tara Cobham
As police processed more arrests, other protesters stood outside the pen and chanted “Met Police, you decide: Justice or genocide”.
People supporting Palestine Action at the Lift the Ban event have been urged not to resist arrest and have been seen following police instructions.
Met say 175 people arrested over Palestine Action protests in London
15:57
,
Tara Cobham
A Metropolitan Police update posted on social media said 175 people have been arrested during protests in London in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action.
“Our policing operation in Trafalgar Square continues.
“As of 3.45pm officers had made 175 arrests for supporting a proscribed organisation, including the six on Westminster Bridge earlier.”
A banner backing Palestine Action was unfurled at Westminster Bridge.
Our policing operation in Trafalgar Square continues.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) October 4, 2025
As of 3.45pm officers had made 175 arrests for supporting a proscribed organisation, including the six on Westminster Bridge earlier.
Blind man and his partner arrested in Trafalgar Square
15:49
,
Tara Cobham
A blind man and his partner have been arrested as they sat in Trafalgar Square holding signs supporting banned group Palestine Action.
The blind man using a white cane was escorted by a police officer to be processed and his partner walked behind him.
Meanwhile, a counter protester who chanted “Free, free Palestine from Hamas” near to where arrestees are being processed was taken into the police pen, before he was allowed back out into Trafalgar Square.
Pro-Palestine supporters shouted “arrest him”.
Ex-political violence adviser calls protests 'callous insult to thousands of grieving Jews'
15:30
,
Tara Cobham
The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
The government’s former adviser on political violence has said Saturday’s protests are a “callous insult to thousands of grieving Jews”.
And Lord Walney warned they may also prove “a major tactical blunder for their campaign”.
Speaking to The Independent, he said: “Many people who might otherwise have been sympathetic to the idea that proscribing Palestine Action went too far will be repulsed by the sight of yet another stunt going ahead despite pleas that the police are flat out protecting Synagogues from the risk of copy cat attacks on the first Sabbath since the Heaton Park killings.
“The ring leaders of this campaign tell each other they are modern day Suffragettes but they have shown themselves up as self-centred, over-privileged exhibitionists who will now be shunned by most decent Palestine supporters.”
March and protest ends outside Manchester Central Library
15:16
,
Tara Cobham
The march and protest ended outside Manchester Central Library, where the crowd gathered and stood in silence as the names and ages of some of the thousands of children killed in the Gaza conflict were read out, before protesters dispersed.
Police granted extension to hold four arrested over Manchester terror attack
15:15
,
Tara Cobham
Greater Manchester Police said it has been granted custody extensions to hold four people arrested in connection with the attack on the Crumpsall synagogue for a further five days.
“We have been granted warrants of further detention for four individuals currently in custody. This means they can remain in custody for up to a further five days,” a statement said.
They are a 30-year-old man, a 61-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man, all arrested in Prestwich, and a 46-year-old woman arrested in Farnworth.
The force said an 18-year-old woman and a 43-year-old man, who were arrested in Farnworth, remain in custody for questioning.
Everyone in custody has been arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.
Met Police Federation chair claims 'enough is enough' for 'exhausted' officers facing more protests
15:01
,
Tara Cobham
The chairwoman of the Metropolitan Police Federation has claimed “enough is enough” as she said officers policing another protest in London are “emotionally and physically exhausted”.
Paula Dodds said: “Enough is enough. Our concentration should be on keeping people safe at a time when the country is on heightened alert from a terrorist attack. And instead officers are being drawn in to facilitate these relentless protests.
“And we are coming under attack for doing so. How can this be right?
“This appalling level of abuse will not be tolerated and we expect the stiffest sanctions for the perpetrators. We are supporting officers as best we can.”
She added: “There aren’t enough of us. Hard-working police officers are continually having days off cancelled, working longer shifts and being moved from other areas to facilitate these protests.
“We are emotionally and physically exhausted. What are politicians and senior police officers going to do about it?”
Elderly woman arrested over Palestine Action sign
14:40
,
Tara Cobham
An elderly woman sat away from crowds at the Palestine Action protest has been arrested and escorted away for showing support for the banned group.
The woman had a cardboard sign face down on her lap and was approached by officers who asked her to show it to them.
After turning it over to reveal it said “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action”, she was arrested and taken away.
She was thanked by crowds who clapped and cheered as she walked away.
Badenoch visits scene of Manchester synagogue terror attack
14:21
,
Tara Cobham
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has visited the scene of the Manchester synagogue terror attack which killed two people.
She was joined by Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and Assistant Chief Constable John Webster as she visited the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Crumpsall.
Dozens of protesters remain in Trafalgar Square holding Palestine Action signs
14:09
,
Tara Cobham
Dozens of protesters remain sitting quietly in the centre of Trafalgar Square holding signs showing support for proscribed group Palestine Action.
Some campaigners are singing protest song We Shall Not Be Moved and holding Palestine flags.
Police are continuing to arrest people who show support for Palestine Action.
Pro-Palestine marchers turn out in their tens of thousands across Europe
13:56
,
Tom Watling
Tens of thousands of people are marching in Barcelona as Spain, Italy and Portugal gear up for mass demonstrations to protest Israel's war in Gaza.
Protests in Spain's second-largest city as well as in Madrid were called for weeks ago, while calls for demonstrations in Rome and Lisbon followed widespread anger after the Israeli interception of a humanitarian aid flotilla that had set sail from Barcelona, trying to break the blockade of the Palestinian territory.
Over 40 Spaniards, including a former Barcelona mayor, are among the 450 activists that Israel removed from the flotilla's boats this week.
Italy already saw more than 2 million people rally on Friday across the c