Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was arrested in London December 23 while demonstrating in support of Palestine Action members who are on hunger strike in prison.
City of London Police detained Thunberg, who was holding a placard reading “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide” outside the Fenchurch Street offices of Aspen Insurance.
The protest, organised by the group Prisoners for Palestine, began early in the morning when two activists used hammers and red paint to damage the building’s facade.
The group says Aspen Insurance provides services to Elbit Systems, an Israeli-linked defence firm.
Police arrested a man and a woman on suspicion of criminal damage. The pair reportedly glued themselves to the site, requiring specialist officers to remove them.
Thunberg arrived shortly afterwards and was arrested separately under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 for displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation.
The UK government banned Palestine Action as a terrorist group earlier this year.
The decision, on June 23, followed a series of direct actions involving criminal damage, culminating in activists breaking into RAF Brize Norton on June 20.
The Palestine Action members vandalised two military aircraft with crowbars and by spraying red paint into their engines.
A City of London Police spokesperson confirmed: “A 22-year-old woman attended the scene and has been arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organisation.”
Video footage shared by Prisoners for Palestine showed Thunberg calmly holding the sign before officers approached her.
They confiscated the placard, and led her away.
A campaigning group, Defend Our Juries, described the arrest as targeting support for the hunger strikers.
Several of the hunger strikers have been hospitalised after more than 50 days without food. They are awaiting trial on charges including criminal damage.
Thunberg, who rose to global prominence through climate strikes, has increasingly voiced support for Palestinian causes in recent years.
The incident marks another in a series of arrests for Thunberg during protests across Europe.
Police inquiries are ongoing, with no charges yet announced.
Eco-warrior turned anti-capitalist pro-Palestine agitator Greta Thunberg has made an awkward PR blunder on Instagram. https://t.co/PzwU5z7q6v
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) October 8, 2025
