British police detained the prominent Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg in London on Tuesday during a demonstration in support of Palestine. The arrest was confirmed by the UK-based campaign group Prisoners for Palestine.
Arrest Under Terrorism Act
According to the campaigners, Thunberg was arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000. The charge stemmed from her holding a placard that stated: “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.” The British government has officially proscribed the group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
A spokesperson for the City of London Police provided further details on the incident. They confirmed that two other individuals were initially arrested for throwing red paint at a building. Subsequently, a 22-year-old woman – identified as Thunberg – arrived at the scene and was also arrested. Her arrest was specifically for displaying a sign in support of a proscribed organisation.
Target of the Protest
The protest targeted a specific building in London. Prisoners for Palestine stated that the location was chosen because it houses an insurance firm. The group alleges this firm provides services to the UK branch of Elbit Systems, an Israeli defence company. The insurance company has not yet commented on these allegations.
Prisoners for Palestine is a group that supports detained activists, some of whom have undertaken hunger strikes. Their statement linked the protest directly to opposition against companies they associate with Israel's military actions in Gaza.
Thunberg's Activism and Past Incidents
Greta Thunberg, now 22, rose to global fame in 2018 after starting weekly school strikes for climate action outside the Swedish parliament. This is not her first encounter with law enforcement during protests.
In a notable previous case in Britain, she was cleared of a public order offence. A judge ruled that police had overstepped their authority when they arrested her and others at a London climate protest the year prior.
Furthermore, in October of last year, Thunberg was involved in a maritime activist effort. She was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of vessels attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. During that event, she was detained along with 478 other people and later expelled by Israeli authorities.
The Israeli government has repeatedly and consistently denied allegations of genocide in its military campaign in Gaza, which was launched following attacks by Hamas on October 7.
