U.K. police arrest 86 at London jail protest backing Palestine Action prisoners, hunger striker

British authorities arrested at least 86 protesters at a London jail after a demonstration demanding the release of Palestine Action political prisoners and drawing attention to detainee Muhammad Umer Khalid, 22, who has relaunched a hunger strike. The arrests followed a gathering on prison grounds at Wormwood Scrubs in West London, where videos showed police shoving some demonstrators to the ground and handcuffing others.

Khalid’s case has become a focal point for campaigners who say his renewed fast comes after a prior period of hunger striking that began in November and was briefly paused in December due to severe health complications. Supporters framed the protest as an urgent appeal for prisoner welfare and political rights, arguing the authorities should address the underlying detention cases rather than treating solidarity actions as public order problems.

Police said the arrests were connected to protesters being on prison grounds, and reports described the demonstration as centered around access points and the jail perimeter. Organizers and participants, however, emphasized the wider campaign around detainees facing charges linked to Palestine Action, a group that Britain’s government has banned under terrorism legislation. That designation has intensified the legal stakes for activists and sharpened arguments over whether protest activity is being criminalized.

Democracy Now!, reporting on the incident as part of its January 26 headlines package, said at least eight activists remain jailed while awaiting trial in connection with their advocacy. It also noted that many participants in earlier prisoner solidarity efforts had previously engaged in prolonged hunger strikes, underscoring the health risks and the continued mobilization around detention conditions.

The arrests arrive amid a broader debate in the U.K. about protest policing, the boundaries of lawful assembly, and how authorities respond to politically charged demonstrations at sensitive sites. Campaigners argue that prison protests can be a last resort to force public scrutiny, while officials typically cite security and safety concerns around prisons. As legal proceedings continue, supporters say they will keep pressuring for transparency around the cases and for independent attention to hunger-strike medical oversight.