Three Charged Under Terrorism Act for Alleged Support of Banned Group Palestine Action

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LONDON – The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed that three individuals have become the first to be charged with publicly supporting Palestine Action, which was recently designated a terrorist organisation by the UK government.

The defendants Jeremy Shippam, 71, of West Sussex; Judit Murray, 71, of Surrey; and Fiona Maclean, 53, of Hackney were arrested following a demonstration in central London on July 5. They have been formally charged under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for allegedly expressing support for a proscribed group.

According to authorities, the arrests took place in Westminster during a protest that drew attention shortly after the government’s ban on Palestine Action took effect.

All three individuals are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on September 16.

The charges precede a separate protest scheduled for Saturday afternoon in Parliament Square, where organisers anticipate a turnout exceeding 500 people in support of Palestine Action. The Metropolitan Police have confirmed increased law enforcement presence in anticipation of the event.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, issued a public warning ahead of the protest.

“Anyone who displays public support for Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation, is committing an offence under the Terrorism Act and can expect to be arrested and, as these charges show, will be investigated to the full extent of the law,” Murphy stated.

Murphy also disclosed that case files for an additional 26 individuals arrested on July 5 are being prepared for submission to the CPS. These cases could result in further charges.

The government officially proscribed Palestine Action in July, citing the group’s “campaign of criminal damage and direct action against UK-based companies linked to Israel’s military supply chain.” The designation was made under the Terrorism Act 2000, aligning the group’s legal status with other banned extremist organisations.

Legal experts note that Section 13 of the Act criminalises any form of public expression or display of support such as flags, symbols, or slogans for designated terrorist entities.