Arrests after protesters breach London prison grounds

The Met Police say they have detained a group of protesters who “breached prison grounds” at Wormwood Scrubs jail in west London on Saturday evening.

The group were demonstrating in support of an alleged Palestine Action prisoner on hunger strike, the Met said, and are alleged to have threatened police and stopped prison staff from entering and exiting.

The Prisoners for Palestine campaign group identified the inmate as Muhammad Umer Khalid, 22, who they say began a thirst strike on Friday. He is awaiting trial over a break-in at RAF Brize Norton last June. He denies the charges.

The Met has said all those involved will be arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass after refusing to leave.

“A number managed to get inside a staff entrance area of a prison building,” the Met said, but did not provide the number of arrests.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said that “at no point was prison security compromised” and called the action an “escalation” that was “completely unacceptable”.

“While we support the right to peacefully protest, reports of trespassing and threats being made to staff and police officers are deeply concerning,” they said.

Prisoners for Palestine said there had been “at least 20 arrests”.

The group said Khalid had limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, a genetic condition, and was on an “extremely dangerous” thirst strike.