Greta Thunberg arrested by UK police over support for 'Palestine Action prisoners'
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested by UK police on Tuesday after holding up a placard reading "I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide".
Thunberg was partaking in a demonstration outside the offices of Aspen Insurance in central London at the time.
City of London Police said a woman, 22, had been arrested for displaying a placard in support of proscribed organisation, Palestine Action, contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Palestine Action, a direct action group, has been proscribed by the UK government since July. Hundreds of people in the UK have been arrested since then for expressing support for the group.
A video from the scene shows police taking the placard off Thunberg, who is sat on the floor, and inspecting the wording.
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Further footage shows the activist standing up and being told by an officer, "We'll go to the van".
Another officer says, "There's no point us holding your arm and moving you along," in an attempt to encourage her to go to a nearby police vehicle.
Thunberg responds: "I said I'm staying here."
A City of London Police spokesperson said: “At around 7am this morning hammers and red paint were used to damage a building on Fenchurch Street.
"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.
"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 organisation (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000."
The action was carried out in solidarity with six prisoners who have been on hunger strike over their treatment and the proscription of Palestine Action.
The first two prisoners to join the hunger strike are now on their 52nd day - at a critical stage where there is risk of death.
Insurers linked to Israeli arms firm targeted
The protest on Tuesday targeted Aspen Insurance, organisers said, because it provides employers liability insurance to Elbit Systems UK - one of Israel's biggest weapons contractors.
Organisers at Prisoners for Palestine told Middle East Eye that Aviva and Allianz had stopped insuring Elbit Systems following direct action from Palestine Action campaigners, before the group was proscribed.
The direct action campaign began against Allianz on 8 October 2024, when Palestine Action targeted 10 of their offices in one day, demanding the firm stop insuring Elbit Systems. Other actions followed against the insurer across Europe.
Aviva was also targeted over its insurance policy with Elbit Systems UK's subsidiary UAV Engines.
Organisers said that Aviva's employment liability insurance coverage of UAV Engines came to an end in early September.
Allianz's coverage of Elbit Systems UK ended on 1 November, replaced by Aspen Insurance, which was targeted by protesters on Tuesday.
On 20 December, when challenged on the matter, Allianz said it had "no holdings in the government bonds referenced in a report by the current UN Special Rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, has no relationship with Elbit Systems and does not engage in any investment or underwriting activity connected to the Middle East".
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