Peter Tatchell arrested for holding 'globalise the intifada' banner

Activist Peter Tatchell has been arrested at a pro-Palestine march in central London after officers spotted him holding a 'globalise the intifada' placard, his foundation said.

The human rights campaigner was carrying a sign that read 'Globalise the intifada: Non-violent resistance. End Israel's occupation of Gaza & West Bank' at the protest on Saturday.

In a statement released by the Peter Tatchell Foundation, the 74-year-old said the arrest was 'an attack on free speech'.

He said: 'The police claimed the word intifada is unlawful. The word intifada is not a crime in law. The police are engaged in over-reach by making it an arrestable offence.

'This is part of a dangerous trend to increasingly restrict and criminalise peaceful protests.

'The Arab word intifada means uprising, rebellion or resistance against Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza.

'It does not mean violence and is not antisemitic. It is against the Israeli regime and its war crimes, not against Jewish people.'

Tatchell was taken to Sutton police station to be detained, according to his foundation.

The Metropolitan Police said in December that protesters chanting 'globalise the intifada' will now be arrested because the 'context has changed' in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack, as well as an attack on Heaton Park Synagogue in October.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and GMP Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson said in a joint statement at the time that communities were 'concerned' by placards and chants including the phrase and those using it at future protests should expect police action.

'Violent acts have taken place, the context has changed - words have meaning and consequence. We will act decisively and make arrests.' 

The Board of Deputies of British Jews backed the decision, describing it as 'necessary intervention' on those 'inciting violence'.

'We have long warned that people chanting slogans like 'globalise the intifada' are inciting violence, and we have been making the case for robust enforcement in relation to this slogan with government at all levels for some time,' the board said

In a post on X, Met Police said: 'Officers policing the Palestine Coalition protest have arrested a 74-year-old man on suspicion of a public order offence. He was seen carrying a sign including the words 'globalise the intifada'.'

Tatchell had been marching close to police officers and with the sign on display for about a mile from Russell Square to the top of the Strand when the group came across a counter-protest, according to a witness.

At that point, he was stopped and 'manhandled by 10 officers', according to Jacky Summerfield, who was with him.

'I was shoved back behind a cordon of officers and unable to speak to him after that,' she said. I couldn't get any closer to hear anything more than (that) it was for Section 5 (of the Public Order Act).

'There had been no issue until that, he was walking near the police officers,' she added. Nobody had said or done anything.'

Just before his arrest, Tatchell posted a picture of himself on X holding up the placard with the words, 'Globalise the intifada'. 

The Australian-British human rights campaigner is known for his work spanning more than 50 years championing such causes as LGBT rights and social justice movements.

Tatchell's arrest came as thousands gathered on Saturday for the Palestine Coalition-organised protest, which set off from Russell Square towards Whitehall shortly after 1pm.

There is also a counter protest organised by Stop The Hate, which has gathered at Aldwych. Barriers have been put in place, with officers flanking the area to prevent the two groups from coming into contact with one another. 

Officers meanwhile were also present at a smaller UKIP protest that began at Marble Arch and is set to end at the North Terrace of Trafalgar square. 

Met Police said a man had been arrested for common assault after passing through the area and confronting protesters. 

Two further people have been arrested on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation after they were spotted by officers carrying a banner with the words 'we are all Palestine Action'.

A woman has also been arrested in Whitehall after she was seen wearing a t-shirt with the words 'globalise the intifada' on. 

At the Palestine Coalition protest, audible chants could be heard from the crowd of 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free'.

The song, which has been adopted by Hamas and is used in the terror group's official charter, is deemed anti-Semitic and a direct call for the state of Israel to be destroyed. 

Others could be heard shouting 'death death to the IDF' and 'intifada revolution', often interpreted as a call for violent uprising against Israel and supporters of Israel. 

Dozens were also spotted holding signs in support of the Iranian regime and waving flags despite Iranian authorities quelling the biggest protests to ‍convulse ‍the country in three years, with possibly tens of thousands said to have been killed by the regime.

Today's protest marks the first mass demonstration in central London this year and comes amid mounting tensions in the Middle East.

Police were force to hold back Pro-Palestinian demonstrators and warn them with arrest as they verbally clashed with Israeli supporters gathered near The Strand.

They yelled abuse and swore as the Israeli supporters retaliated by playing Lilly Allen's hit song F*** You on a loudspeaker and chanting 'you can shove Palestine up your a**e'.

Palestinian campaigners in return swore at the pro-Israel gathering and shouted 'go to hell'.

One sign held by female Palestinian demonstrator praised West Midlands Police just weeks after Chief Constable Craig Guildford was forced to quit over his decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a match at Aston Villa in November.

Many said the decision amounted to antisemitism and sparked a huge political scandal.

The sign read: 'Thank you West Midlands Police for keeping school children safe. Shame on hysterical Maccabi politicians.'

Other signs on display at the march included the depiction of a masked fighter, as well as the slogan 'Palestine will rise' and a clenched fist. 

Speakers at the rally were critical of plans by US President Donald Trump to run Gaza with a 'Board of Peace'. while one described former PM Tony Blair as a 'butcher'.