The Metropolitan Police has announced charges against 67 individuals for allegedly displaying support for Palestine Action following the group's proscription under the Terrorism Act.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised the charges for an offense under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, with a maximum punishment of six months’ imprisonment, the Met said.
This section makes it an offence to wear an item of clothing or display any article “in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a member or supporter of a proscribed organisation”.
The designation of the group as a terrorist organisation was passed in July by a significant majority in the House of Commons, placing it on the same legal footing as groups like Al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
Commander Dominic Murphy from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said that all those charged were arrested during demonstrations in central London on July 5 or July 12, which organisers said were designed to test the proscription by encouraging an exhibition of support for the group en masse.
“The notion that by coming out and showing support toward a proscribed terrorist group will overwhelm us is completely misguided,” Murphy said in a Met statement.
“The reality for those who have carried out this action is that they are now facing serious charges under the Terrorism Act. If convicted of such an offense, it can have a severe impact on your life or career,” he added.
“My message to anyone thinking about carrying out similar action in the coming weeks is to reconsider,” the commander warned.
More than 700 people have been arrested since Palestine Action was proscribed on July 5, according to the BBC.
The ban came after its members filmed themselves vandalising two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton on June 20.
Two Voyager aircraft, used for cargo and refueling, were damaged to the tune of an alleged £7 million. A video of the incident released by the group showed a vandal riding an electric scooter onto the base and spray-painting the engine of one of the planes, while pro-Palestinian music played in the background.
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