Greta Thunberg has been arrested after joining a protest in support of the Palestine Action protesters on hunger strike in prison.
The Prisoners for Palestine protest group confirmed the Swedish campaigner had been detained while attending the demonstration in central London.
In a video shared by the group, Ms Thunberg, 22, can be seen holding a sign reading “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide” outside the central London offices of Aspen Insurance.
The group claimed they targeted the company on Tuesday morning because it provides services to Israeli-linked defence firm Elbit Systems.
Two activists are understood to have sprayed red paint and used hammers to damage the building.
Police arrived shortly afterwards and made arrests.
A City of London Police spokesman said: “At around 7am this morning hammers and red paint were used to damage a building on Fenchurch Street.
“A man and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
Greta Thunberg was arrested for displaying a placard in support of a proscribed organisation
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“They glued themselves nearby and specialist officers are working to release them, and bring them into police custody.
“A little while later, a 22-year-old woman also attended the scene.
“She has been arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organisation (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.”
The Palestine Action hunger strikers, Amu Gib, 30, Qesser Zuhrah, 20, and Kamran Ahmed, 28, who have gone 52 days and 44 days without food, have issued five demands to the UK Government from prison.
Greta Thunberg’s sign said ‘I support Palestine Action prisoners’
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These include immediate bail, the right to a fair trial, ending censorship of their communications, “de-proscribing” Palestine Action, and the shutting down of Elbit Systems.
Gib, 30, has was being held at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey, was taken to hospital on Saturday.
Similarly, Ahmed was being held at Pentonville Prison in London, before being admitted to hospital in the past week.
According to Prisoners for Palestine, Gib now requires a wheelchair to get around after the activist’s health “deteriorated rapidly”.
Zuhrah, who began refusing food at the same time as Gib on November 2, is also understood to be receiving hospital treatment.
Activists used red paint to spray the front of the building and used hammers
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PA
