Six defendants are set to face serious terrorism charges related to their involvement with the banned group Palestine Action.
SIX INDIVIDUALS are set to appear in court on THURSDAY, facing terrorism charges related to their alleged support for the banned group Palestine Action. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has confirmed that these charges stem from activities including the organization of demonstrations in London, Manchester, and Cardiff, as well as hosting 13 Zoom meetings between July and August.
Details of the Charges
The defendants include:
- Timothy Crosland, 55, from Southwark, charged with three counts of addressing a meeting to encourage support for a proscribed organization and three counts of assisting in arranging such meetings.
- Patrick Friend, 26, from Grange in Edinburgh, facing two counts related to managing meetings to support a proscribed organization and one count of assisting in arranging a meeting for the same purpose.
- Gwen Harrison, 48, from Kendal, Cumbria, accused of four counts of addressing a meeting with the purpose of encouraging support for a proscribed organization and four counts of assisting in arranging meetings to that end.
- David Nixon, 39, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, charged with five counts of managing meetings to support a proscribed organization, as well as additional counts related to addressing and assisting in meetings.
- Dawn Manners, 61, from Hackney, east London, facing multiple counts related to managing and addressing meetings to support a proscribed organization.
- Melanie Griffith, 62, from Southwark, charged with seven counts of addressing meetings and four counts of assisting in arranging them.
All six have been remanded in custody and will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Background of the Investigation
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, stated, “We have made the decision to prosecute these individuals under the Terrorism Act.” The charges arise from a series of Zoom meetings held between July 10 and August 21, during which public gatherings were allegedly organized in favor of Palestine Action.
Ferguson detailed the timeline, noting that public gatherings occurred from July 12 to August 9, with a planned gathering set for September 6 in London. “We have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command during this investigation,” he added.
Warnings and Public Reaction
Ferguson cautioned against social media commentary regarding the arrests, reminding the public that criminal proceedings are ongoing and that the defendants are entitled to a fair trial. “It is crucial that there should be no reporting or sharing of information online that could prejudice these proceedings,” he warned.
The Metropolitan Police reported that the arrests occurred on Tuesday, coinciding with a statement from the campaign group Defend Our Juries, which claimed that five of its spokespeople were among those arrested. This development follows the recent private court appearance of Anthony Harvey, 59, who faces similar charges related to Palestine Action.
Detective Chief Superintendent Helen Flanagan, head of operations for the Counter Terrorism Command, emphasized the serious repercussions for those found guilty under the Terrorism Act. “We urge anyone considering public support for Palestine Action or similar groups to reconsider,” she stated, highlighting that while public sentiment regarding Palestine is strong, it is essential to express views without violating counter-terrorism laws.
