Almost 100 individuals were taken into custody during demonstrations throughout the UK in response to the government’s designation of Palestine Action as a terrorist organization.

Rallies supporting the pro-Palestinian activist group were held on Saturday in multiple cities, including London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, and Truro.

According to the Metropolitan Police, 55 arrests took place on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses due to protesters displaying placards advocating for Palestine Action at the main demonstration in Westminster.

This month, the government classified the group under the Terrorism Act of 2000, rendering any affiliation or support a criminal act, following an incident involving a break-in at an RAF base.

Demonstrators nationwide carried signs reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

In London, police made arrests close to the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Parliament Square, with approximately 20 police vans responding to the scene.

Law enforcement acted quickly to detain individuals holding placards, many of whom were elderly. One woman, claiming to be in her 80s, was seen using a cane. Some protesters were escorted away while others required assistance to be removed.

In Bristol, Avon and Somerset Police reported that 17 individuals were arrested under the Terrorism Act at a demonstration on College Green, with an additional three being asked to come in for a voluntary interview at a later date.

In Truro, Devon and Cornwall Police arrested two men and six women on suspicion of terrorism offenses following a gathering near Truro Cathedral.

This group, comprising about 30 participants, staged a peaceful protest organized by the campaign group Defend Our Juries. Earlier, the group indicated that one of those detained near the cathedral was an 81-year-old former magistrate.