Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg was arrested in the City of London on Tuesday after participating in a demonstration and displaying a placard in support of a proscribed organisation.
Protest Targets Insurance Firm Linked to Arms Trade
The incident occurred outside the offices of Aspen Insurance on Fenchurch Street. The protest, organised by the campaign group Prisoners for Palestine, targeted the global insurer for its alleged services to Elbit Systems UK, a subsidiary of an Israeli weapons manufacturer.
Before Thunberg's arrival, two other activists had used repurposed fire extinguishers to cover the building's front with red paint and had locked themselves to the structure. A man and a woman were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage at around 7am, with police noting hammers and paint were used.
Arrest Under Counter-Terrorism Legislation
Thunberg, 22, arrived later and sat down with a sign reading: “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.” The City of London Police stated she was detained for displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation, specifically Palestine Action, contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
While numerous arrests have been made in the past year for similar placards, campaigners questioned why Thunberg's specific wording triggered the use of counter-terrorism powers on this occasion.
Hunger Strikes and Demands for Government Action
The protest was carried out in solidarity with eight prisoners who have been on hunger strike while awaiting trial for alleged offences relating to Palestine Action, which was banned as a terrorist group. The first two prisoners are now on their 52nd day without food and are at a critical stage for their health, with three others having stopped due to severe risk.
Their demands include:
- Immediate bail.
- An end to the ban on Palestine Action.
- The removal of restrictions on their communications.
Families and supporters have pleaded with Justice Secretary David Lammy to meet them, sending a legal letter on Monday claiming his refusal breaches the Ministry of Justice's hunger strike policy.
In a statement, Thunberg said: “It is up to the state to intervene and put an end to this by meeting these reasonable demands that pave the way for the freedom of all those who choose to use their rights trying to stop a genocide.”
The action against Aspen follows similar campaigns that pressured other insurers, Allianz and Aviva, to end contracts with Elbit subsidiaries. Allianz recently stated it “has no relationship with Elbit Systems.”
