Key facts
- Elderly activists in the UK are being raided by counterterrorism police for publishing videos supporting the proscribed group Palestine Action.
- The raids involve searches of homes, confiscation of personal devices, and in some cases, handcuffing.
- Many activists, including Marji Mansfield (70), Asghar Ahmad (53), and Paul Gravesbrown (64), have been targeted.
- Activists uploaded videos declaring support for Palestine Action following a call from the Defend Our Juries group.
- The arrests are occurring under the Terrorism Act, with charges potentially under Section 12 or Section 13.
- The raids have caused significant fear, anxiety, and a loss of personal safety among those affected.
Scores of activists across the UK, many of them elderly, are facing dawn raids and arrests by counterterrorism police for publishing videos in support of the banned Palestine Action group. Marji Mansfield, a 70-year-old grandmother, described the experience as "really, really quite scary" and stated, "This isn't the Britain that I thought I grew up in at all."
Since Palestine Action was proscribed in July 2025, over 3,000 individuals have been arrested under the Terrorism Act for participating in silent vigils. Following a recent court ruling that upheld the ban, the Defend Our Juries group called for an escalation in activism, encouraging individuals to invite support for the group, an offense that can carry a 14-year sentence under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act. Most arrests so far have been under the lesser charge of Section 13.
Approximately 19 people, many retired, have been raided by counterterrorism police in various locations across the UK. During these raids, police have searched homes extensively, confiscated personal devices such as laptops and phones, and seized items bearing the Palestinian flag. Some individuals reported being handcuffed, despite police policy that requires objective grounds for such restraint.
Asghar Ahmad, a 53-year-old former government worker, described opening his door to a dozen police officers and having his home searched and devices confiscated. He was handcuffed and later released without charge. Paul Gravesbrown, a 64-year-old archaeologist, reported that around 20 officers searched his home for over six hours, even looking through his teenage wife's diary. Allie, a 30-year-old bartender, was arrested at 1 am, handcuffed, and had her devices seized after police requested PIN numbers.
Activists have described the raids as traumatic, shattering their sense of personal safety and causing significant anxiety. Many reported being unable to sleep or go out for fear of police arriving in their absence. The UK's Counter Terrorism Police did not respond to requests for comment.