'Terror ban now ruled to be unlawful'

THE Government's decision to ban Palestine Action as a terror group was unlawful and “disproportionate”, the High Court has ruled.

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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she will fight to prevent the proscription being lifted and the case could have implications for thousands of people arrested for supporting the group at protests across the country.

The ban remains in place for now and the Government will appeal but the Metropolitan Police indicated officers were unlikely to arrest people simply for showing support for Palestine Action until the legal situation was clarified.

Ms Mahmood said she was “disappointed” by the ruling and officials fear it could severely restrict the Government’s discretion to act to ban organisations in the future.

The group has undertaken 385 direct actions in protest at the situation in Palestine and the actions of the Israeli government since 2020, according to police.