Greta Thunberg has been arrested under the Terrorism Act after participating in a pro-Palestinian protest outside the offices of Aspen Insurance.
The protest began with two Prisoners for Palestine activists covering the front of the Aspen building on Fenchurch Street with blood-red paint. The pair then locked on to the front of the building, an action intended to highlight Aspen’s complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Aspen provides Elbit Systems UK with the Employer Liability insurance, without which Elbit could not produce weapons in Britain. Elbit is Israel’s biggest weapons maker, producing over 85 per cent of their drone fleet and land-based equipment.
The action was also carried out in solidarity with the Prisoners for Palestine hunger strikers, who are now in the eighth week of a hunger strike.
Thunberg later joined the protest, sitting outside the building holding a sign reading “I support Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide”. She was then arrested by police under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, which makes it an offense to display articles (such as a banner) that would make someone reasonably suspect you’re a member or supporter of a proscribed terrorist organisation. Since July 5, Palestine Action has been a proscribed group.
In a statement posted on Instagram a few days ago, 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, something the British state has failed to do themselves. Mobilise and escalate to ensure the government cannot ignore their demands, and most importantly continue to answer their calls to Shut Elbit Down. Free Palestine!”
