DaysofPal- British police briefly detained Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg on Tuesday evening while she was taking part in a pro-Palestine protest in central London, according to local media reports and videos shared online.
Footage circulating on social media showed Thunberg seated on the pavement holding a placard as police officers approached and questioned her.
Reports said her detention was linked to her public expression of support for Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian campaign group that has been banned in the United Kingdom due to its actions against companies connected to the Israeli occupation.
The demonstration was organized by the group Prisoners for Palestine and took place outside the London headquarters of Aspen Insurance in the city’s financial district.
Protesters sought to draw attention to the cases of eight activists who have been held for nearly a year on charges related to alleged involvement with Palestine Action and who are currently on hunger strike.
Aspen Insurance provides coverage to Israeli Elbit Systems, one of the country’s largest defense companies.
Organizers said the protest was intended to pressure the insurer and to spotlight the harsh detention conditions facing the imprisoned activists.
In a statement posted on X, Prisoners for Palestine said Thunberg was detained under the UK’s terrorism laws after holding a sign reading, “I support Palestine Action prisoners.
I am against genocide.” Video clips showed an officer removing the sign and asking Thunberg if she would stand up, to which she responded that she would not.
Police also detained two other demonstrators after red paint was sprayed on the exterior of Aspen Insurance’s offices during the protest.
Palestine Action, established in 2020, rose to prominence in Britain following Israel’s war on Gaza, which began on October 8, 2023.
The group is known for direct-action campaigns aimed at companies it accuses of involvement in Israeli military operations, including a high-profile protest that temporarily disrupted production at an Elbit Systems facility in Bristol.
The UK government’s decision to ban the group in July drew criticism from human rights organizations and pro-Palestinian activists, who argue the designation has been used to curb solidarity protests across the country.
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