Police arrest 365 people at protest in support of proscribed group Palestine Action

Police have made 365 arrests in London after crowds turned out for a Palestine Action demonstration - despite the group being banned.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said there were also seven other arrests for offences including five for assaulting officers. It added: "Fortunately none were seriously injured." Organisers Defend Our Juries had earlier said up to 700 people were at the event in Parliament Square and claimed police were preparing for the "largest mass arrest in their history".

The group said those arrested included former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg, NHS workers, quakers and a blind wheelchair user. Earlier this afternoon, the Met said a "significant number of people" were seen "displaying placards expressing support for Palestine Action, which is a proscribed group".

Read more:What does proscribing a group mean? Legislation to proscribe Palestine Action came into force on 5 July, making it a criminal offence to show support for the organisation, carrying a prison sentence of up to 14 years. Defend Our Juries announced earlier this week the protest would go ahead despite the ban, following several other similar demonstrations since the proscription last month.

On Saturday, a spokesperson for the group said that "Palestine Action and people holding cardboard signs present no danger to the public at large". Three people have been charged as a result of illegal Palestine Action activity.

Jeremy Shippam, 71, of West Sussex, Judit Murray, also 71, of Surrey, and Fiona Maclean, 53, of Hackney in east London, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 16 September. Another march organised by the Palestine Coalition, which is a separate group, set off from Russell Square and assembled on Whitehall.

The Met Police said one person had been arrested there for showing a placard in support of the Palestine Action. Crowds had assembled in Parliament Square by 1pm, with people seen writing "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action" on placards.

Many remained silent while others sang pro-Palestine chants. A Home Office spokesperson said in a previous statement: "The home secretary has been clear that the proscription of Palestine Action is not about Palestine, nor does it affect the freedom to protest on Palestinian rights.

"It only applies to the specific and narrow organisation whose activities do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to protest on different issues." The ban faces a legal challenge in November after the High Court granted a full judicial review to Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori..