UK MP John McDonnell raises 'alarm' about arrest of journalists at Palestine Action protest

Labour politician John McDonnell has tabled a motion in the UK parliament expressing "alarm" about the arrests of five journalists at a Palestine Action protest in Leicester last week. The move comes after Middle East Eye reported that the journalists were arrested on 8 October under the Terrorism Act while covering a demonstration outside UAV Tactical Systems in Leicester, a subsidiary of the Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems. The journalists, including two Leicester Gazette reporters and two union-accredited freelancers, said they had been arrested under Section 13 and detained for three hours before they were de-arrested after handing over their personal information. This was despite the reporters having already identified themselves with their press credentials to multiple officers. McDonnell on Thursday tabled the Early Day Motion that denounced the arrests as "police overreach", constituting "a deeply concerning threat to the basic right of journalists to undertake the vital role they play in our democracy". Read more: UK MP John McDonnell raises 'alarm' about arrest of journalists at Palestine Action protest Labour MP John McDonnell (AFP)