Man bailed following arrest for Hamas support under terrorism laws

A man has been bailed after being arrested under terrorism laws on suspicion of supporting Hamas at a demonstration.

A 31-year-old man was arrested by officers on suspicion of displaying an banner supportive of a proscribed organisation under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. A proscribed organisation under the act is a group that is forbidden by the law.

The arrest was made in the Whitehall area of central London on Tuesday, 17 October, during a pro-Palestine demonstration.

The man was later further arrested on suspicion of inviting support for a proscribed organisation under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, the Metropolitan Police has said. The man was taken into custody at a London police station, and later bailed to a date in November.

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As part of the investigation, being led by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, officers conducted searches at addresses in east London and in County Durham. Police enquiries are ongoing.

The military wing of Hamas, Hamas IDQ, was first proscribed by the Home Office in March 2001. This was extended to cover Hamas in its entirety in November 2021.

In Britain, it was proscribed by the Home Office in March 2001 and the ban was extended to cover the whole of Hamas two years ago. The escalating violence in the Middle East has seen protesters taking to the streets of Britain and around the world.