86 Arrested in UK Prison Protest Backing Palestine Action Detainee

At least 86 people were arrested following a protest outside a prison in London in support of a man detained for backing the banned group Palestine Action, police said.

The Metropolitan Police said demonstrators breached the grounds of Wormwood Scrubs prison, refused to leave when ordered, and threatened officers. They were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.

Several protesters reportedly attempted to gain access to the prison itself. The demonstration was held in support of Umer Khalid, who is currently on a hunger strike at the facility.

Khalid is among five people charged in connection with a break-in at the Royal Air Force base in Brize Norton last year, during which two military aircraft were damaged. Members of Palestine Action were accused of carrying out the incident.

He denies the charges and is one of several detainees who are currently, or have recently been, on hunger strike. All are facing similar charges and have been held for more than a year without their cases going to trial.

Responding to the incident, a spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Justice said the escalation of the protest was “completely unacceptable,” while stressing support for peaceful demonstrations.

The spokesperson added that reports of trespassing and threats toward staff and police were deeply concerning, and warned that such actions would not be taken lightly.

Officials said prison security was not compromised and that detainees were being managed under established healthcare policies, including regular medical checks, heart monitoring, blood tests, and hospital treatment when necessary.