Police arrested Greta Thunberg in London after she displayed a pro-Palestine placard, as authorities enforce new powers against groups banned under Britain’s terrorism laws, amid Gaza war protests and controversy grows.
British police on Tuesday arrested Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during a pro-Palestine protest in London, according to UK-based campaign group Prisoners for Palestine.
The group said Thunberg, 22, was detained under the UK’s Terrorism Act for holding a placard reading, “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.” The British government has recently proscribed Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation.
A spokesperson for the City of London Police said two other individuals were arrested for throwing red paint at a building in the city. The spokesperson added that a 22-year-old woman later arrived at the scene and was arrested for displaying a placard in support of a proscribed organisation.
Prisoners for Palestine said the building was targeted because it is used by an insurance firm they allege provides services to the British arm of Israeli defence company Elbit Systems. The insurance firm did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Thunberg rose to global prominence in 2018 after launching weekly climate protests outside the Swedish parliament. Last year, she was cleared of a public order offence in Britain after a judge ruled police had no power to arrest her and other protesters during a London demonstration.
In October, Thunberg was detained along with 478 others and later expelled by Israel after joining the Global Sumud Flotilla, an activist convoy attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. Israel has repeatedly rejected allegations of genocide.
The latest arrest adds to growing controversy around protests linked to the Gaza conflict and the UK government’s tougher stance on groups it considers extremist.
