News- Middle East: London's Metropolitan (Met) Police have reported that the total number of arrests during Saturday's peaceful pro-Palestinian rally reached a record 522 individuals.

Campaigners noted that these arrests represented the highest number of people taken into police custody at a single protest in the history of the British capital.

The 522 arrests are believed to constitute the "largest ever mass arrest" in London's history.

The Met added that police made ten additional arrests, including six for assaults on officers, although none suffered serious injuries.

Pro-Palestinian protesters staged the peaceful rally in London in defiance of the United Kingdom’s decision to ban the Palestine Action Group.

A significant number of pro-Palestinian activists gathered at Parliament Square to show solidarity with Palestine Action and to denounce the ongoing war in Gaza, which they describe as genocidal.

Protesters carried placards stating, “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

The Met announced that its officers arrested the demonstrators for breaching anti-terror laws by supporting the recently proscribed group Palestine Action.

In an update to its previous arrest tally, the Met noted that all but one of the 522 arrests occurred during the Parliament Square protest and were related to displaying placards in support of Palestine Action.

The other arrest for the same offense took place at nearby Russell Square as thousands attended a Palestine Coalition march opposing Israel's genocide in Gaza.

The Met indicated that approximately equal numbers of men and women, with an average age of 54, were among those arrested on Saturday. Only a handful of the detainees were teenagers, while many were over the age of 70.

Palestine Action, the pro-Palestinian campaign group known for its direct actions against Israeli weapons factories in the UK and their supply chains, has been officially designated as a “terrorist organization” by British lawmakers.

Under the new legislation, membership in or public support for this group is now a criminal offense in the UK, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

The Met Police had warned protesters to be aware of the potential consequences of participating in the rally, stating that participation, including chanting slogans, wearing clothing, or displaying flags and signs in support of the group, could result in arrest under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Source: Press TV