Wave of arrests for Palestine solidarity actions sparks ‘state repression’ fears

COUNTER-TERRORISM police have arrested 10 more Palestine Action activists in connection to a protest at a “research hub” belonging to Israel’s largest weapons firm Elbit Systems.

Another 10 had already been detained when the action took place on August 6.

Activists were arrested after a prison van crashed into the outer perimeter of the facility in Filton, Bristol.

A video shared by the group showed people using sledgehammers to destroy weapons and machinery.

Despite being arrested under the Terrorism Act, which allows police to detain suspects up to 14 days without charge, the activists were all charged with non-terror offences, such as criminal damage and aggravated burglary.

Tom Southerden, Amnesty International UK’s Law and Human Rights Director, said: “Counter-terrorism powers are particularly concerning when they are used to circumvent normal legal protections, such as justifying holding people in excessively-lengthy pre-charge detention.”

Police confirmed that 10 more were arrested under the Terrorism Act on Tuesday in connection with the incident.

In a statement, it said that activists had caused “extensive damage,” while employees at Elbit and two police officers were “seriously assaulted.”

Palestine Action says that family members and room-mates of those raided were expelled from their own homes by police for up to three days.

It added that the mother and younger brother of one arrested were both cuffed, despite not being accused of any offence.

A spokesperson for the group accused the British state of “acting to protect the interests of a foreign genocidal regime, over the rights and freedoms of its own citizens.”

They added that the real terrorists were “those assisting and arming Israel’s genocide.”

It comes a month after counterterrorism police raided the home of Asa Winstanley, a journalist covering the occupation of Palestine.

A letter addressed to him by the Metropolitan Police counterterrorism command said that it was investigating possible offences of “encouraging terrorism.”

An officer said the investigation was connected with Mr Winstanley’s social media posts, his employer, Electronic Intifada reported.

Cage International head of campaigns Naila Ahmed said: “The British government continues to build an infrastructure of authoritarian laws.

“This is beyond a question of complicity; the UK police are now acting as an extension of a genocidal entity, abusing and exploiting any and every power at their disposal to intimidate and crush resistance to the mass killing of humans in Gaza.”

Free Political Prisoners campaign spokesperson Paddy Friend said: “This weaponisation of terrorism legislation is an act of state repression of the most dangerous kind, and is the latest step in a series of attempts to clamp down on Palestine Action.”

Tim Crosland, a former government lawyer and co-ordinator of the campaign, said: “What’s taking place in Gaza is prolonged and systematic terrorism against the civilian population.

“It’s wrong to be a bystander to such crimes against humanity. Even worse to be complicit in them, by supplying the weapons.

“The use of terrorism legislation against members of Palestine Action, at the recommendation of the arms industry lobbyist, Lord Walney, is a grotesque corruption of the rule of law.”

Earlier this week, the government admitted in court that it has continued arms exports to Israel despite knowing that there was a “clear risk” that they could be used to violate international humanitarian law.

In a case calling for a full ban on the exports, brought by Glan and Al-Haq, the government said it continued to send parts for F-35 jets, after Defence Secretary John Healey said that suspending them would “undermine US confidence” in Britain and Nato.