'This isn't the Britain I grew up in': The activists raided by police over Palestine Action videos
'This isn't the Britain I grew up in': The activists raided by police over Palestine Action videos Marji Mansfield, a 70-year-old grandmother of seven, has been waiting for British counterterrorism police to show up at her door. The anxiety sharpens between five and seven in the morning, when police usually conduct dawn raids, particularly if she has her grandchildren stay overnight. “It’s been…
British activists are awaiting potential raids from counterterrorism police after publishing videos supporting the banned direct action group Palestine Action. The government proscribed the organization in July 2025, leading to over 3,000 arrests under the Terrorism Act for participating in silent vigils. Since the Court of Appeal quashed the ban in June, activists have called for an escalation in their protests, including inviting support for the group.
Since then, around 19 people, mostly retired, have been raided across the UK, including in London, the West Midlands, Somerset, Wales, Cornwall, and Scotland. The police reportedly searched their homes, confiscated personal devices, and personal items, such as Palestinian flags and personal diaries. Many activists report feeling anxious and unable to sleep, fearing the possibility of a raid.
One former government worker, Asghar Ahmad, was handcuffed and driven to the police station, where officers searched his home and confiscated all of his devices. The police claim they only removed items bearing Palestinian symbolism, but Ahmad believes they went through everything. He is now spreading his retirement age activism fearlessly.
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