Police warn Palestine Action supporters they face arrest ahead of Edinburgh consulate protest
Demonstrations backing the banned group are planned in Edinburgh and London today, days before a Supreme Court appeal against its designation as a terror organisation.
The US Consulate General in Edinburgh. File photo. · Photograph: Ian Dodds (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Police have warned that people attending protests in support of the banned group Palestine Action could be arrested even if they do not hold up a placard.
Campaign group Defend Our Juries has organised demonstrations outside the US consulate near Holyrood in Edinburgh and the US embassy in Nine Elms, London, where around 400 people are expected. Protesters plan to hold signs reading "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action".
Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in June 2025, which makes expressing support for it an offence under the Terrorism Act.
Who could be arrested?
Commander Adam Slonecki of the Metropolitan Police said everyone planning to attend knew supporting a proscribed organisation was unlawful, and that they were essentially meeting to commit a crime.
He said it was not only those holding placards who should expect arrest. Anyone police believe is playing a key role in organising the event, giving instructions or providing logistical support would very likely be committing an offence. He urged people to reconsider, saying such events take police away from communities.
Police Scotland said it was aware of the planned protest in Edinburgh and would have appropriate resources in place to keep the public safe and limit disruption.
Why the US consulate?
Defend Our Juries says it is targeting US government buildings because it claims the ban was imposed to appease President Donald Trump. In August, the US government imposed its own sanctions on Palestine Action and designated it a terror group.
Supreme Court showdown
The protests come days before the Supreme Court hears an appeal against the ban on 4 November.
In February, the High Court ruled that then-home secretary Yvette Cooper's decision to proscribe the group was unlawful, following a challenge by co-founder Huda Ammori. But in June, five Court of Appeal judges overturned that ruling, finding the ban was a justified and proportionate interference with freedom of expression.
Home Office figures show 92% of terrorism-related arrests between March 2025 and March 2026 were linked to Palestine Action.
The Daily Scot will update this story as events unfold.