Greta Thunberg arrested for supporting Palestiine Action prisoners

Greta Thurnberg was arrested under the Terrorism Act at the Prisoners for Palestine lock-on protest outside the offices of Aspen Insurance at Plantation Place, 30 Fenchurch Street, London. She arrived after the protest began, with a sign reading “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide”

This morning two activists covered the front of the building with symbolic blood-red paint, using re-purposed fire extinguishers, and the pair then locked-on at the front of the building, with the intention of drawing attention to Aspen’s complicity in Genocide, disrupting their business, and closing down the building. 

Aspen Insurance, a global speciality insurer and reinsurer were targeted because they provide services to Elbit Systems UK, providing the arms manufacturer with the mandatory Employer Liability insurance without which Elbit could not produce weapons in Britain.  Elbit are Israel’s biggest weapons maker, producing over 85 per cent of their killer drone fleet and land-based equipment.

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The action was also carried out in solidarity with the Prisoners for Palestine hunger-strikers, who are now in the eighth week of a hunger-strike, launched on November 2nd. The first 2 prisoners to join the protest, are now on their 52nd day on hunger-strike, and at a critical stage, where death is a real possibility. David Lammy, British Minister of Justice, has refused to speak to legal representatives of the hunger-strikers, or their families.

After the two activists locked-on at the front of the Aspen offices, they were joined by supporters. Swedish activist Greta Thunberg then arrived, holding a banner reading, “I support the Palestine Action prisoners. I oppose genocide.” She was then arrested by police. This follows an arrest in Scotland, where a protestor was arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, for holding a sign reading, “I support the Palestine Action hunger strikers.”

In a statement of solidarity with the hunger-strikers released on Instagram a few days ago, Greta said, “It is up to the state to intervene, and put an end to this by meeting these reasonable demands that pave the way for the freedom of all those who choose to use their rights trying to stop a genocide, something the British state has failed to do themselves. Mobilise and escalate to ensure the government cannot ignore their demands, and most importantly continue to answer their calls to Shut Elbit Down. Free Palestine!”

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