On Saturday, September 26, Massive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja was arrested under the UK Terrorism Act in Liverpool, outside the venue where the Labour Party conference is due to be held with new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, after protesting in support of Palestine Action.
A video shows Del Naja sitting on the sidewalk holding a sign that reads, “I oppose genocide I support Palestine Action.” Later, several police officers approach Del Naja and speak with him.
“Is there anything I can do to have a conversation with you to move you out of the area because you are committing an offense?” one officer tells him.
Del Naja responds: “Yeah, I don’t recognize the offense, though, because under UK law it is actually an offense to aid and abet any private individual or company aiding and abetting genocidal war crimes.”
The officer replies: “Are you aware that Palestine Action is a proscribed organization, okay?”
Del Naja responds: “I don’t agree with the proscription.”
He is then placed under arrest on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organization.
Activist group Palestine Action was proscribed in July 2025 under the Terrorism Act 2000, following several incidents of property damage. That makes being a member of the group or showing support for the organization a criminal offense, with fines and prison sentences of up to 14 years.
Today is the first day of the Labor Party conference, which goes until Sept. 30, and it’s already been reported that there are over 200 protestors outside of the venue. Two of them have been arrested.
