British police have arrested 86 people protesting the continued detention of activist Umer Khalid from the proscribed Palestine Action group, who has been on a hunger strike for 17 days inside Wormwood Scrubs prison in west London.
London’s Metropolitan Police claimed the protesters entered the prison grounds on Saturday evening and “refused to leave when ordered,” “threatened prison staff and police officers,” and that some of them “managed to reach the staff entrance area.”
Police accused those arrested of committing the offense of aggravated trespass, and pledged to make further arrests.
The Ministry of Justice said “prison security was not impacted at any time,” described what happened as an “unacceptable escalation,” and said it “supports peaceful protest,” but voiced “concern about any threats or criminal damage.”
The group Prisoners for Palestine accused police of a “violent and wildly disproportionate response,” saying the protests were called for detainee Muhammed Umer Khalid, 22, as “he entered the second day of his thirst strike.”
The group said Khalid has limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and that the hunger strike has reached an “extremely dangerous” stage. He is now refusing water.
Khalid, who is awaiting trial, faces charges related to breaking into the Royal Air Force base at Brize Norton in June. He denies the charges against him.
Khalid is one of five activists accused of carrying out the same action, which included defacing two aircraft with red paint and placing the Palestinian flag on the runway, according to Palestine Action, which supports the Palestinian cause.
Videos of the protest, which Al Jazeera said it verified, showed police officers using force to push protesters back and arrest them, as protesters screamed and demanded an end to the attacks.
Khalid’s mother, Shabana Khalid, told Al Jazeera that her son’s health has deteriorated as the hunger strike continues and that he is under close medical monitoring every hour.
The latest protest comes amid a series of repeated demonstrations after the British government banned Palestine Action in July, leading in recent months to hundreds of arrests over support for, or promotion of, the group’s activities.
The British government’s decision to classify Palestine Action as a terrorist group places it in the same category as Hamas, Al Qaeda, and ISIS.
Prisoners for Palestine is calling for those detained to be released on bail, fair trials to be guaranteed, the ban on pro-Palestinian organizations to be lifted, what it described as “censorship in prisons” to end, and for the government to stop dealing with Israeli weapons companies.
Palestine Action has generally targeted Israeli companies, and companies linked to Israel, in Britain, such as Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems, and most often has sprayed red paint on facades, blocked company entrances, or damaged equipment.
