1,579 Palestine Action-related terrorism cases were listed at Westminster Crown Court on Thursday, even after many defendants had been told their 30 July hearings were postponed to 26 October.
Contradictory letters told some people they "must attend" and also "do not attend," while court lists ran to 82 pages with about 2,000 entries and some defendants appeared multiple times or in nonexistent courtrooms.
Defendants who traveled long distances said the confusion left them unable to track serious Terrorism Act charges that were already affecting work, travel and self-representation, while lawyers and campaigners called the court handling unlawful.
Outside the court, police moved on a sit-in protest and initially reported 77 arrests for alleged support of the banned group; later reporting put the total at 117.
The disruption came the same day the Supreme Court ruled Palestine Action can challenge its July 2025 ban, which has already led to thousands of arrests and intensified criticism of Britain's use of terrorism laws against protest.
With thousands arrested under anti-terror laws, is the government silencing dissent or protecting national security from a dangerous radical group?
Will the UK Supreme Court classify property damage as terrorism, or will a landmark ruling redefine the limits of free speech?
The 2026 Westminster Arrests and Legal Freeze: Inside the UK’s Mass Crackdown on Palestine Action and the Fight for Free Speech
Overview
The July 2026 Westminster arrests marked a dramatic escalation in the UK’s crackdown on pro-Palestine activism, following the government’s decision to ban Palestine Action as a terrorist group after a high-profile RAF base protest. When hundreds gathered to oppose prosecutions under the new law, police arrested dozens, including prominent figures, fueling public outcry. On the same day, the Supreme Court allowed an appeal against the ban, triggering an immediate freeze on over 2,000 related criminal cases. This legal pause intensified political pressure on the government, as civil rights groups demanded a reset of policies restricting protest and free expression.