The Metropolitan Police have charged 134 people with offences for allegedly showing support for the banned Palestine Action group in London. The force announced 20 additional protesters have been told they will face court action, bringing the total to this significant figure.
The 20 defendants were all arrested on August 9 and have been sent formal charge summons to appear in court. They face charges under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 24.
Those facing charges
Among the 20 people charged are Richard Burge, 65, of Plumstead, south-east London; Illinois Cook, 54, of New Malden, Surrey; Samra Abdirahman, 46, of Halton, Leeds; Stephanie Foster, 58, of Bickington, Devon; and Carole Lawrence, 64, of Brighton. Also charged are Israa Inbrahim, 42, of Ilford, east London, and Andrea Middleton, 53, of Hook, Hampshire.
The list continues with Susan Salvietto, 64, of Watford, Hertfordshire; Kristyan Robinson, 62, of Camden, north-west London; Adrian Cadbury, 36, of Westminster, central London; Trudi Warner, 70, of Walthamstow, east London; Chloe Hill, 60, of Southwark, south-east London; Jane Augsburger, 60, of Stroud, Gloucestershire; and Lindsay Alderton, 50, of Totnes, Devon.
The remaining defendants are Mark Hudson, 55, of Stone, Staffordshire; Peter Thornton, 60, of Worthing, West Sussex; Cathrine Kibbler, 59, of Snaith, East Riding of Yorkshire; Adeelah Mir, 42, of Leyton, east London; William Crane, 78, of Enfield, north London; and David Chapman, 67, of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.
Police warning issued
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, warned that convictions could have "potentially serious consequences" that could impact careers and overseas travel plans. He said: "I would urge anyone considering committing a similar offence by coming out and showing support to Palestine Action to reconsider, otherwise you will very likely be arrested, investigated and, as these latest charges show, we are efficiently working with the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) to bring about prosecutions."
Charges under section 13 of the Terrorism Act can carry a maximum sentence of six months' imprisonment. Palestine Action has been banned by the Government as a terrorist organisation.
Major demonstration planned
Defend Our Juries said more than 1,500 people had pledged to take part in a central London demonstration in Trafalgar Square. The protest has been billed as "the biggest ever mass action yet defying the ban on Palestine Action", with hundreds of people reportedly willing to risk arrest.
A spokesman said: "It's nothing short of a scandal that thousands of people are being arrested - from vicars and priests to students and retired healthcare workers - as our fundamental rights to free speech and protest have been stripped away, not to keep us safe, but to protect weapons manufacturers' interests and enable Israel to continue to slaughter Palestinian people."
Recent wave of arrests
Saturday's planned demonstration follows a week of mass protests that saw 66 people arrested outside the Labour party conference in Liverpool for supporting the proscribed terrorism organisation. Two people from the Liverpool protest were later released, but the other 64 were arrested on suspicion of a terrorism offence and taken into custody.
All those arrested in Liverpool, aged between 21 and 83, have been released on bail. Merseyside Police said: "Some of the people in attendance displayed material in support of Palestine Action, who are a proscribed terrorism organisation."
Last month, violent clashes broke out when an estimated 1,500 people gathered for a rally in Westminster. The protest took on an increasingly anti-police tone, featuring chants of "shame on you" and "you're supporting genocide".
Sources used: "PA Media" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
![Działo się w środę. Oto najważniejsze wydarzenia [SKRÓT DNIA]](https://i.wpimg.pl/308x/filerepo.grupawp.pl/api/v1/display/embed/03528666-7fc3-48ef-bdbf-6126b3aea4ba)
