Palestine Action protesters arrested after trespass at Wormwood Scrubs prison

Palestine Action protesters arrested after trespass at Wormwood Scrubs prison — Eighty-six people were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, the Metropolitan Police said, after a group breached the grounds of HMP Wormwood Scrubs in west London while demonstrating in support of a Palestine Action-linked activist held inside the jail.

What happened

The Metropolitan Police said protesters 'refused to leave the grounds when ordered to do so' and that officers arrested people during the breach. Police said the group 'blocked prison staff from entering and leaving, threatened police officers and a number managed to get inside a staff entrance area of a prison building'. Videos verified by Al Jazeera show police officers shoving protesters to the ground and handcuffing them, and two groups of police appearing to kettle demonstrators. Footage posted to social media appeared to show protesters chanting, holding Palestinian flags and entering a building inside the prison grounds. That account sits alongside the Ministry of Justice statement that 'At no point was prison security compromised', a contrast between police allegations of intrusion and the government's assessment. The Ministry of Justice described the escalation as 'completely unacceptable' and said prisoners were being managed with regular checks and medical support.

Who is at the centre

Organizers said the action was tied to 22-year-old pro-Palestine activist Umer Khalid, who campaigners say has been on hunger strike inside Wormwood Scrubs; reporting varies on how long the strike has lasted. Some reports say he stopped eating 16 days ago, while others say he restarted his hunger strike 15 days ago and is on the second day of a thirst strike. Campaigners say Khalid is at particular risk because he suffers from Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy. Prisoners for Palestine and a physician cited by outlets warned Khalid could die within hours or days if he stops taking fluids, and the physician said people typically die within 3 to 4 days without fluids. Khalid is one of five activists accused of breaking into RAF Brize Norton in June and spray-painting two Voyager aircraft; the group has pleaded not guilty. Prisoners for Palestine listed demands including bail, the right to a fair trial, de-proscription of Palestine Action, closure of Elbit sites in the UK and an end to what it calls censorship in prison.

Reactions and legal context

Our prisoners’ hunger strike will be remembered as a landmark moment of pure defiance; an embarrassment for the British state.

That statement was used by the Prisoners for Palestine Group to characterise the action as deliberate defiance. The Ministry of Justice said 'The escalation of the protest at HMP Wormwood Scrubs is completely unacceptable' and warned that where individuals' actions cause risk or actual harm to staff 'those responsible can expect to face consequences'. Umer Khalid told outlets 'The only thing that seems to have any impact, whether that is positive or negative, is drastic action.' Al Jazeera’s NewsFeed reported police carried out mass arrests after a peaceful protest. The UK government has moved to ban Palestine Action under antiterrorism laws, a decision that has been challenged in court and criticised by the United Nations as 'unjustified'.

State of play

Reporting agrees that demonstrators breached Wormwood Scrubs and that 86 people were arrested, while the Ministry of Justice says 'At no point was prison security compromised' and that those responsible can expect consequences. Campaigners and a physician warn Umer Khalid could die within hours or days if he stops taking fluids, though outlets give different timelines for his hunger and thirst strike. The government has moved to ban Palestine Action and that ban is being challenged in court and criticised by the United Nations as 'unjustified'; legal hearings and continued medical monitoring are the most likely next steps.

Built from coverage across multiple outlets and regions.