Dozens Detained at Labour Party Conference Protest in Liverpool

Police detained 66 people during a pro-Palestinian protest outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Sunday, in a demonstration that has reignited debate over free speech and the UK’s counterterrorism laws.

Merseyside Police confirmed that the protesters, aged between 21 and 83, were arrested on suspicion of supporting the banned group Palestine Action. Two of those detained were later released without charge, while the remaining 64 have been released on bail pending further inquiries. Officers said the arrests were made under terrorism legislation.

The demonstration was organized by Defend Our Juries, which said around 100 people gathered outside the conference center carrying placards that read: “I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action.”

Palestine Action was designated a terrorist organization by the UK government in July after it admitted responsibility for damaging two military aircraft at RAF Brize Norton. The group is currently seeking permission to appeal the designation in the High Court, arguing that the ban is unlawful and politically motivated.

Among those who took part in Sunday’s protest was 71-year-old Keith Hackett, a former Labour councillor in Liverpool. “I’m risking arrest today under terrorism legislation because, as a former Labour councillor, I am deeply ashamed of how Labour is acting,” he told The Independent.

Human rights monitors raised concerns over the scale of the police response. Observers from Amnesty International said demonstrators were “hauled from the streets by police,” calling the scenes part of a disturbing trend.

“There are serious human rights concerns around not only the proscription of Palestine Action, but also the chilling consequences this decision has had,” an Amnesty spokesperson said. “People are being silenced, and peaceful protesters are being pulled from our streets into police vans. The UK’s overly broad terrorism laws are being misused to suppress free speech.”

Defend Our Juries also criticized Labour, urging the party to act more forcefully on the Israel-Gaza conflict. “Instead of shutting down protest, it’s time the Labour Party took the responsibility to prevent genocide seriously and impose blanket sanctions on Israel, including stopping the flow of arms from factories in this country,” a spokesperson for the group said.

The incident highlights the growing tension between national security measures and the right to protest. While authorities insist the ban on Palestine Action is necessary to protect the public and prevent acts of sabotage, critics warn that the crackdown risks undermining fundamental freedoms and criminalizing dissent.

With the Labour Party conference continuing this week, further demonstrations are expected, raising the prospect of additional confrontations between protesters and police.