Greta Thunberg arrested at protest supporting Palestine Action hunger strikers
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested in central London during a demonstration in support of Palestine Action protesters on hunger strike in prison, according to protest group Prisoners of Palestine.
Ms Thunberg, 22, can be seen holding a banner reading “I support prisoners of Palestine Action. I oppose genocide” in a video shared by the group at a demonstration organized by Prisoners of Palestine outside the offices of Aspen Insurance in central London.
The group claimed on Tuesday morning that they targeted the company because it provides services to Israeli-linked defense firm Elbit Systems.
Two activists sprayed the front of the building with red paint before police arrived and arrested them.
A spokesperson for the City of London Police said: “Hammers and red paint were used to damage a building in Fenchurch Street at around 7am this morning.
“A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal offending. They have attached themselves to the nearby area and specialist officers are working to release them and take them into police custody.
“Shortly afterwards a 22-year-old woman also joined the scene. She was arrested for displaying an item (in this case a banner) supporting a proscribed organization (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.”
A total of 7 detainees have been hospitalized since the hunger strike began on November 2.
Kamran Ahmed, 28, held at Pentonville Prison in London, and Amu Gib, 30, held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, were admitted to hospital last week after refusing to eat.
Palestinian Prisoners had previously said Gib’s health had “rapidly deteriorated” since joining a hunger strike on November 2 and that the activist now had to use a wheelchair.
Gib, who was on the 51st day of the strike, was hospitalized on Saturday.
Last Thursday, emergency room physician Dr. James Smith told reporters that some activists were “dying” and needed specialist medical attention.
All of the prisoners face charges related to alleged trespass or criminal damage on behalf of the Palestine Movement before the group was banned under terrorism laws.
A law firm representing hunger strikers said it had filed a pre-action letter against Justice Minister David Lammy on Monday. The letter outlines the group’s intention to take legal action.
According to the Press Association, the letter calls for a response within 24 hours and states that the issue is “an urgent matter” and that “the health of our customers continues to deteriorate and the risk of death increases day by day.”
It says: “They are requesting an urgent meeting with the proposed defendant to discuss our clients’ deterioration in health and attempts to resolve the situation.”
The hunger strikers said they had sent letters to Mr Lammy, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, but had received no response and claimed that the Government had abandoned their policies within the framework of prison security policy.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “We strongly deny these allegations.
“We want these prisoners to accept support and recover, and we will not create perverse incentives to encourage more people to put themselves at risk through hunger strikes.”
This is a breaking story – more to come
