MI5 identified ‘three separate acts of terrorism’ committed by Palestine Action ahead of ban

The UK’s main independent body for assessing and analysing terrorism threats identified THREE separate acts committed by Palestine Action ahead of the government’s decision to proscribe the organisation, Downing Street has confirmed.

Details of the three acts were identified by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which is based within MI5, and have been outlined in full in a closed court, it was confirmed.

“Under the terrorism act the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre identified three separate acts of terrorism carried out by Palestine Action activists,” the spokesperson confirmed, who added the “very clear assessment” had been supported by “experts across the police and security services.”

Palestine Action is a “violent organisation” that has committed “significant injury,” Downing Street added.

Asked about people arrested as part of protests linked to the group, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We’ve said that many people may not yet know the reality of this organisation, but the assessments are very clear: this is a violent organisation that has committed violence, significant injury, extensive criminal damage, and as I say, it has met the tests as set out under the Terrorism Act to be proscribed.”

Downing Street faced questions from journalists about the mass arrests that took place over the weekend at a demonstration in support of the proscribed group.

They resisted calls to give further detail of the information that led to the proscription of Palestine Action, confirming again that some information would emerge in future court cases related to the group.

“The PM absolutely supports the police in enforcing the the law, ” said a No.10 spokesperson.”The law is very clear, expressing support for a proscribed organisation is illegal.”

Asked whether the group Defend Our Juries, who had organised Saturday’s demo in central London backing Palestine Action were now facing proscription themselves, No.10 said the potential banning of  any group was something they would never comment on ahead of any action.

Earlier justice minister, Alex Davies-Jones defended the arrests of over 520 activists saying supporters of a “terrorist organisation will feel the full force of the law”.

Responding to questions about the protest this morning on BBC Breakfast, Davies-Jones said: “I want to thank the police for their bravery and their courage in carrying out their diligent duties in the line of public protection, and I want to state that the right to peacefully protest in this country is a cornerstone of our democracy, and of course, we respect that.

“But with regards to Palestine Action, they are a proscribed terrorist organisation and their actions have not been peaceful.

“They have violently carried out criminal damage to RAF aircraft. We have credible reports of them targeting Jewish-owned businesses here in the United Kingdom, and there are other reasons which we can’t disclose because of national security.

“But they are a proscribed terrorist organisation and anyone showing support for that terrorist organisation will feel the full force of the law.”

The Met confirmed on Sunday that 522 people were held for displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation, out of the total 532 arrests made during the policing operation.

Over the coming weeks, officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command will work to put together case files and secure charges against those arrested, the force added.