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Exactly 175 people have been arrested in the heart of London during protests in support of the banned group Palestine Action, according to the London police force.

Protest coordinators said many people participated in demonstrations supporting Palestine Action – an organization which was proscribed by the government in July, making it illegal to express backing or association to them.

Demonstrations went ahead despite calls from ministers and police who called for protests to be postponed following the recent deadly synagogue attack in Manchester.

Sir Keir Starmer had encouraged protesters to "honor the sorrow of the Jewish community", while community leaders also condemned the demonstrations.

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Defend Our Juries member, a prominent activist, stated he had "no doubt" that "everyone involved in the quiet demonstration today will demonstrate huge respect and real grief for those affected by the terrible tragedy at Heaton Park".

"It is my belief that implies that we should be asked to relinquish on our entitlement to advocate for those who are being ravaged by an ongoing, live genocide in Gaza."

Those taking part "possessed the deepest concern about growing levels of anti-Jewish sentiment", he further stated.

Prior to the protests, the London police announced it would assign 1,500 officers to the central London location to manage the protesters.

In an statement on the weekend, the police force said the majority of those arrested were detained for assembling in the square; while six were detained for unfurling a sign backing the proscribed group on the bridge earlier in the day.

The force said each detention required effort because "a significant number of those arrested won't walk out of the area and need to be carried".

The police said this is a procedure which requires a minimum of five police personnel to do so safely.

On the previous day, the London police wrote to the organizers to raise concerns about the amount of law enforcement personnel the demonstration would redirect at a time when "visible reassurance and protective security" was needed for the public.

But the organization, which has organized demonstrations against the prohibition on Palestine Action, ignored these calls and went ahead with the demonstration.

Minutes before the primary demonstration started in the central location, Defend Our Juries succeeded in display two signs over the north side of the bridge which read: "I oppose genocide" and "I back the banned group".

The Met reported personnel took down the signs minutes later, and detained those participating for supporting a banned group.

A similar gathering organized by Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine also occurred where a crowd of around 100 activists assembled outside Manchester Cathedral ahead of a march.

The protests were held just a short time after two Jewish men – Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz – lost their lives after an assailant used a vehicle into people outside a Manchester synagogue.

The knifeman then attempted to enter his way into the synagogue before being shot dead by armed police. Additional individuals were injured in the attack.

Prior to the demonstrations, the a security charity – which provides security for the Jewish population – told media outlets, the protests were "extremely insensitive".

"Given the numerous individuals who claim to care about civil liberties and value liberties, to be taking law enforcement personnel away from safeguarding the entitlements and freedoms of the Jewish community to conduct their daily activities and go to synagogue in safety, all to back a banned extremist group, which is not the same thing as supporting the Palestinians."

"The two are distinct. And I think it's remarkably self absorbed and insensitive to say the least."

The group has called on the police to "prioritise safeguarding the public, rather than arresting those calmly holding signs" in backing the banned group.

The authorities proscribed the group under counter-terror laws in July, after activists broke into an military installation and damaged two air force planes earlier in the year.

At multiple protests since then, hundreds have been arrested for showing support for the group, which has won permission to contest the prohibition.