Greta Thunberg arrested in London for holding protest sign

Dec. 23 (UPI) -- London police arrested Swedish activist Greta Thunberg on Tuesday for holding a protest sign supporting Palestine Action hunger strikers.

Thunberg, 22, joined the protest outside an insurance company office in London. She allegedly sat with a handwritten sign that said, "I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide."

Palestine Action, a Britain-based protest group, was named a terrorist organization by the British government in July. The group broke into Britain's largest air force base in June and damaged two planes in protest against the country's support of Israel. Since then, hundreds of protesters have been arrested during demonstrations.

Thunberg said in a statement: "It is up to the state to intervene and put an end to this by meeting these reasonable demands that pave the way for the freedom of all those who choose to use their rights trying to stop a genocide, something the British state has failed to do themselves."

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Prisoners for Palestine, the group that Thunberg's sign supports, is a group of those imprisoned for their activism for Palestine. Eight prisoners were on hunger strike. The two who began the protest are now on their 52nd day and at a critical stage for their health. Three of the eight have stopped because of the danger to their health.

Prisoners for Palestine in a video said it targeted the offices of Aspen Insurance on Tuesday because it serves the Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems. Two activists sprayed red paint on the building. Soon after, police arrested them.

"A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They glued themselves nearby, and specialist officers are working to release them, and bring them into police custody," London police told NBC News.

"A little while later, a 22-year-old woman also attended the scene. She has been arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organization (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000."

The hunger strikers' demands include immediate bail for prisoners, ending the ban on Palestine Action and stopping restrictions on their communications.

IDF move tanks along border fence

Israeli tanks move out from a position along the border fence with the Gaza Strip on October 20, 2025. Photo by Jim Hollander/UPI | License Photo