GRETA THUNBERG ARRESTED AT LONDON PROTEST OVER PALESTINE ACTION HUNGER STRIKERS

LONDON, Dec 23 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Famed Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was arrested on Tuesday at a London protest in support of Palestine Action hunger strikers, sparking a backlash against the British government, Anadolu Ajansi reported.

A video shared by the Prisoners For Palestine group showed the 22-year-old activist being arrested by police officers outside the offices of Aspen Insurance, which the group said provides services to Israeli weapons firm Elbit Systems.

She was arrested under the Terrorism Act for holding a sign that read: "I support Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide."

"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," City of London Police wrote on US social media company X.

Some activists also sprayed red paint over the front of the building before being detained.

The protest came amid rising criticism of the government over the condition of six detainees linked to the banned group Palestine Action, who have been on a hunger strike since November.

Palestine Action was banned in July under the Terrorism Act after members of the group entered a Royal Air Force base and spray-painted two aircraft, causing £7 million (US$9.44 million) in damage, according to police. Hundreds of pro-Palestine activists have since been arrested across the UK.

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, criticised the UK government, accusing it of being part of a cover-up of Israel’s genocide.

"To the UK government: the more people you arrest to shamefully cover up Israel's genocide, the more decent people will stand up against you in the name of human rights," she wrote on X, with a video showing Thunberg's arrest.

Albanese added: "In the end, we will all make sure that the leaders who are complicit in Israel’s genocide will face justice."

Green Party leader Zack Polanski also spoke out against the arrest, saying Thunberg was arrested "for holding a sign opposing genocide."

"When peaceful protest is a crime, democracy is in deep trouble. Happening under a Labour government," said Polanski.

-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU