Couple in a wheelchair detained by police during Palestine Action protest in London

A couple in a wheelchair have been detained by police during a protest in central London in support of banned group Palestine Action.

Frank, 77, and his wife Jean told Metro they had been arrested under the terrorism act after joining thousands of people in Parliament Square this afternoon.

Metro saw the pair begin to smile and laugh as they were surrounded by police, before taken away moments later.

The Metropolitan Police is being approached for comment.

The square is filled with Palestine, flags, banners, and support of the cause and keffiyehs.

At 1pm, demonstrators sat silently holding signs reading ‘ I oppose genocide. I support Palestine action.’

Others were seen sitting calmly, eating sandwiches and smiling away in the sunshine.

Chants of ‘shame’ were heard as Metro witnessed one man, who was sitting silently and holding a sign, being dragged away by police.

‘He was just holding a sign!’ one protester yelled in response.

Today’s protest is much larger than the one last month, where dozens of protesters were detained for holding the signs in support of Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation in the UK.

Only 12 minutes after the protest’s official start time, The Metropolitan Police said: ‘Officers have begun making arrests for expressing support for proscribed terror organisation Palestine Action at the protest organised by Defend Our Juries.’

Defend Our Juries (DOJ) said the action was planned on condition of at least 1,000 people pledging support, but claimed hundreds more planned to take part, with a boost in support after a number of activists involved in organising the protests were arrested under terror laws.

Attendees are expected to refuse street bail, requiring more people to be taken into custody, and they plan to go ‘floppy’, forcing officers to physically carry them away.

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