COUNTER-TERRORISM police arrested key members of Defend Our Juries today in “an unprecedented assault on free speech” just hours before the group was due to hold a press conference on an upcoming mass protest against proscribing Palestine Action.

Despite the arrests, the group confirmed that the protest will go ahead on Saturday, having met its target of securing 1,000 pledges to attend.

The protesters will gather in Parliament Square holding signs reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action,” challenging the police’s ability to crack down on supporters of the proscribed group.

Defend Our Juries founder Tim Crosland and law student Paddy Friend, who were due to speak at the press conference, were among those arrested during dawn raids today.

They were arrested along with three others under section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, which prohibits support for proscribed organisations.

Witnesses of the raid on Mr Friend’s home said that police had told them he was being arrested for hosting a Zoom call with other Defend Our Juries members.

The public calls provided legal briefings to those who signed up for protests in support of Palestine Action.

A Defend Our Juries spokesperson said: “Locking up our key spokespeople just hours before they were due to hold a press conference announcing more peaceful Lift the Ban protests constitutes an unprecedented assault on free speech in our country.

“This level of political repression is not what we expect in a democracy — it’s the kind of tactic typically associated with authoritarian regimes around the world.

“The Home Office and the Met would have known about our press conference today.

“The counter-terrorism police are clearly targeting people they perceive as organisers, and the key spokespeople arrested were told they were being arrested for hosting public Zoom calls.”

The Counter Terrorism Command confirmed that those arrested have been taken into custody, where they currently remain while enquiries are ongoing.

Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan said: “There are serious consequences for those who are found guilty of an offence under the Terrorism Act, so I would urge anyone considering showing public support towards this proscribed group to reconsider.”

Kerry Moscogiuri, from Amnesty International UK, said: “Criminalising speech or protest is only permitted when it incites violence, hatred or discrimination.

“To be clear: expressing support for Palestine Action does not meet this threshold. In fact, arresting and prosecuting people in this context, is a violation of the UK’s obligations under human rights law.”

Protesters taking part in Saturday’s mass action have been urged to avoid “street bail” by withholding their details from police.

The move is expected to force mass processing at police stations, making it harder for officers to arrest all those taking part.

More than 700 people have been arrested at protests against Palestine Action’s proscription, including 522 at Defend Our Juries’ last mass action in Parliament Square.

The government designated Palestine Action a terrorist organisation on July 5 after members broke into RAF Brize Norton and sprayed red paint onto two refuelling planes.

The group typically targeted Israel-linked arms factories supplying weapons used in the genocide in Gaza.