Oxford, UK — Baptist minister James Grote was arrested on Sunday by Thames Valley Police after displaying a placard in support of Palestine Action, a group recently banned under UK terrorism laws.
Grote had been standing in Bonn Square, Oxford, holding a banner that read: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.” He was arrested under suspicion of expressing support for a proscribed terrorist organization.
Palestine Action was officially designated a terrorist group last month after members broke into RAF Brize Norton, causing £7 million in damages. The group is known for targeting sites connected to UK arms production and export, particularly those linked to Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Although not a member of the organization, Grote defended their tactics. “Palestine Action has damaged property, not people; this is not terrorism,” he said. “The bombing of Gaza to dust is terrorism. So too was the 7 October massacre by Hamas.”
Thames Valley Police confirmed the arrest of a man in his sixties from Bicester, noting he had been released on bail as charging decisions are pending. “While people have the right to protest in a lawful manner, behaviour that may cross into criminality will be subject to investigation,” the force stated.
Under the Terrorism Act 2000, expressing support for a proscribed group can result in a prison sentence of up to 14 years. Since the group’s designation, 67 people have already been charged with similar offences during July protests in London.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended the government’s decision, citing “serious attacks” committed by the group and clear evidence that “this is not a non-violent organisation.”
Palestine Action’s proscription follows a wider crackdown on groups linked to Gaza-related protests amid ongoing international debate over the war, which began after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and hundreds of hostages.
Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports more than 62,000 deaths from Israeli military operations.
