28 Arrested as Police Break Up Pro-Palestine Protest in Manchester City Centre Greater Manchester Police made 28 arrests this afternoon after a pro-Palestine demonstration in the city centre turned into a standoff with officers. The protest began in Piccadilly Gardens before hundreds of demonstrators marched to St Peter’s Square. Shortly after 2pm, police moved in and began detaining people under the Terrorism Act. A GMP spokesperson confirmed the arrests were linked to suspected involvement with Palestine Action, the direct-action group that was officially designated a terrorist organisation by the UK government earlier in 2025. Images from the scene showed lines of officers escorting handcuffed protesters into vans, while others formed cordons to prevent the crowd from advancing further. Some demonstrators sat down in the road before being carried away by police. No injuries were reported, and the area was cleared by around 3.30pm. The crackdown is one of the largest uses of terror legislation against pro-Palestine activists since the ban came into force. Anyone found to be a member of, or actively supporting, a proscribed group now faces up to 14 years in prison. Police said the operation had been pre-planned after intelligence suggested members of the banned organisation intended to take part.