Greta Thunberg Detained in London Under Terrorism Act During Palestine Action Protest

Swedish environmental advocate Greta Thunberg, age 22, was taken into custody by the City of London Police on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, during a demonstration in the capital's financial district. The detention occurred outside the offices of Aspen Insurance in the Square Mile, where Thunberg displayed a placard stating, “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.” Police confirmed the arrest was executed under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000, citing support for Palestine Action, which was proscribed under the same legislation on July 5, 2025, following incidents including the vandalism of Royal Air Force aircraft at Brize Norton.

The demonstration, organized by the group Prisoners for Palestine, was held in solidarity with Palestine Action members who were undertaking a hunger strike in prison, a protest that began on November 2, 2025. The action specifically targeted Aspen Insurance due to its reported provision of employer liability insurance services to Elbit Systems UK, a subsidiary of an Israeli defense manufacturer. This financial connection mirrors the focus of prior direct actions against insurers like Allianz and Aviva, both of which subsequently terminated their contracts with Elbit Systems UK.

Prior to Thunberg's detention, two other activists engaged in property damage at the Aspen Insurance building on Fenchurch Street, using hammers and red paint discharged from fire extinguishers before securing themselves nearby; they were subsequently arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. As of December 23, 2025, eight Palestine Action members remained on the hunger strike, with the initial two participants reportedly reaching a critical stage on day 52, while at least three others had ceased the protest due to health concerns. The penalty for displaying support for a proscribed group, such as holding a placard, carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison, a legal framework that has resulted in the detention of at least 2,489 individuals for expressing support for the group since the proscription.

Thunberg issued a statement asserting that the British state had failed to intervene to meet the activists' demands, which include ending the ban on Palestine Action and securing immediate bail for the detainees. Human rights barrister Michael Mansfield contended that the government's approach was eroding fundamental rights, including due process. Conversely, Prisons Minister Lord Timpson maintained that the Prison Service was adhering to established medical care protocols for the striking inmates. Legal teams for the hunger strikers formally notified the government of impending High Court proceedings on December 22, 2025, following Justice Secretary David Lammy's refusal to meet with them.

This confrontation over the application of counter-terrorism law to non-violent activism has drawn external scrutiny. UN experts and civil liberties groups have voiced criticism, suggesting the proscription conflates legitimate protest with terrorism and establishes a perilous precedent for freedom of assembly. Campaign group Defend Our Juries questioned the legal justification for Thunberg's arrest, noting that hundreds of previous expressions of support for Palestine Action had not resulted in similar charges. The severity of the current situation, particularly the life-threatening hunger strike, has drawn historical comparisons to the 1981 Irish Republican hunger strikes.