The Metropolitan Police in London said that at least 42 people were arrested by late afternoon. Pics/AFP
All but one of the arrests were for showing support for a proscribed organisation, which police said includes chanting, wearing clothing, or displaying articles such as flags, signs, or logos. Another person was arrested for common assault
A further 16 arrests were made in Manchester, according to Greater Manchester Police, while South Wales Police said 13 people were also held in Cardiff
In London, it was the second straight week that protesters gathered to support the pro-Palestinian activist group. Its outlawing has meant support for the organisation is deemed a criminal offense. Police arrested 29 people at a similar protest last weekend
Two groups gathered underneath both the statues of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi and South Africa's first post-apartheid president, Nelson Mandela, in Parliament Square
Signs with the wording "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action" were held aloft in silence as the protesters were surrounded by police officers and members of the media
Some demonstrators could be seen lying on top of each other on the ground as police searched their bags and took away signs
Officers could then be seen carrying away a number of protesters who were lying down, lifting them off the ground and into waiting police vans parked around the square
The official designation earlier this month of Palestine Action as a proscribed group under the Terrorism Act 2000 means that membership in the group and support for its actions are punishable by up to 14 years in prison
Some 81 organisations are already proscribed under the UK Act, including the militant groups Hamas and al-Qaida
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