Three people have been charged with terror offences after ‘showing support for Palestine Action at a protest’.
Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, were arrested following a protest in Parliament Square, central London, on Saturday.
They will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 16, the Metropolitan Police said.
Over 500 activists plan to gather for another protest at Parliament Square this Saturday, displaying signs that declare ‘I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action’.
This event has heightened concerns about a potential ‘mass arrest’, with police and No 10 announcing that anyone who backed the newly banned terror organization would face arrest.
Last week, Palestine Action won permission to challenge the ban after the High Court ruled it had an arguable case.
A judicial review will take place in November. Until then, the ban remains in place.
This means that being a member of or supporting Palestine Action is now a criminal act, with penalties reaching up to 14 years in prison, as stated in the Terrorism Act 2000.
Protesters participate in a rally supporting Palestine Action, organized by the Defend Our Juries group, in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square.
People held up signs saying ‘I oppose genocide’ and ‘I support Palestine Action’
Pro-Palestinian activists hold a solidarity protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice as Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori challenges the Home Secretary in the High Court over the group’s designation as a terror organization in London, United Kingdom, on July 4, 2025.
There have already been 200 arrests at protests organised by Defend Our Juries since the ban came into force last month.
Prison officials have enacted emergency protocols in anticipation of a possible surge in detainees this weekend amid apprehensions over some prisons nearing capacity.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has sought to head off potentially chaotic scenes in the capital this weekend.
As she urged the public to steer clear of support for a ‘proscribed terror organisation that wishes harm on the British people’.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: ‘Anyone who displays public support for Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation, is committing an offence under the Terrorism Act and can expect to be arrested and, as these charges show, will be investigated to the full extent of the law.
‘These charges relate to three people arrested in central London on July 5.
Palestine Action was proscribed by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper after its members caused an estimated seven million pounds worth of damage to RAF Brize Norton planes on June 20
Two women and a man have been charged with showing support for proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action following a protest
A protester holds up a ‘1984’ sign criticising the Met Police as officers arrest a pair of protesters in Whitehall on July 19 who were holding placards stating ‘Palestine Action are not the terrorists’
‘We are also planning to send case files to the Crown Prosecution Service for the other 26 people arrested on the same day.
‘I would strongly advise anyone planning to come to London this weekend to show support for Palestine Action to think about the potential criminal consequences of their actions.’
Frank Ferguson, Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: ‘Following a review of the evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police Service, we have authorised charges against two women and a man under section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
‘Jeremy Shippam, 71, Judit Murray, 71, and Fiona Maclean, 53, have each been charged under the Terrorism Act with showing support for the proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action in Westminster on 5 July 2025.
‘The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are active and that they have the right to a fair trial.
‘It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
