Greta Thunberg arrested at pro-Palestinian protest in London |
LONDON — London police on Tuesday arrested Swedish activist Greta Thunberg at a demonstration in support of pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel hunger strikers, Palestinian activist groups said.
Thunberg’s arrest makes her the highest-profile person to be detained by British police since the government banned the Palestine Action group under anti-terror laws.
“Greta Thunberg was arrested under the Terrorism Act at the Prisoners for Palestine lock-on protest,” Prisoners for Palestine said in a statement.
Thunberg was holding a sign reading “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.”
Israel firmly denies allegations of genocide in its two-year war against Hamas in Gaza, and insists that it makes every effort to avoid harming civilians.
Thunberg, a 22-year-old who rose to fame for her climate activism, was among hundreds of people who boarded a flotilla in October that tried to break through the Israeli blockade of Gaza. The flotilla was intercepted by Israel, and the activists were deported.
BREAKING: Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has been arrested in London after holding a sign that reads: “I support Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.”