A well-known activist and peace campaigner from Powys was one of 27 people arrested in Parliament Square, London for offences under the Terrorism Act on Saturday.

Angie Zelter, 74, was arrested by Metropolitan Police following a protest with the group Defend Our Juries, which saw her and other campaigners sitting by the statue of Gandhi, holding homemade signs that read: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

The action by protest group Defend Our Juries was the first organised challenge to the proscription of Palestine Action, which came into effect at 00.01 on July 5, after lawyers acting on behalf of Palestine Action failed to block the court bid ban on Friday, July 4.

Palestine Action is a pro-Palestinian organisation which disrupts the arms industry in the United Kingdom. The designation now emphasises that being a member of, or showing support for Palestine Action, is a criminal offence and could lead to up to 14 years in prison. It came after members used red spray paint to protest against the use of RAF planes in supporting the Israeli military.

The police have said they responded to a protest in support of of the now banned group, Palestine Action. The day before the action, the protest group Defend Our Juries wrote to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, to warn of their plans. In a letter obtained by The Brecon and Radnor Express, the group writes: “We would like to alert you to the fact we may be committing offences under the Terrorism Act tomorrow, Saturday 5 July, in Parliament Square at about 1pm. We do not intend to cause you any alarm. We are committed to nonviolence and there is no risk whatsoever of anyone being harmed.”

Ms Zelter has twice been found not guilty by a jury after disarming military equipment. In one case parts for a nuclear submarine and in another case a BAE hawk jet being exported to support Indonesia’s genocide in East Timor.

On Saturday, she and the 26 others were arrested under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act, which carries a maximum six months in jail. All have been released on conditional bail to await further action.

Ms Zelter said of her action: “We have to uphold the most important international law adopted into UK law - the Genocide Act. Peaceful, disruptive protest is essential to protect democracy.”

Speaking to The Brecon and Radnor Express, Ms Zelter said: “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. Everyone has the right to peaceful assembly. The genocide of the Palestinian people is a horrific crime against humanity. People are being gunned down as they queue for food. The British government is a partner to the Israeli government in the genocide, supplying them with diplomatic cover, intelligence and arms. Lobbyists for the Israeli government and for Elbit Systems, the main supplier of genocidal weaponry, have been meeting with the Home Office, undermining democracy and corrupting the legal process. If I cannot express my opposition to genocide, and my support for those who resist it, then the right to freedom of expression has no meaning, and democracy in this country is dead.”

A spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said: “We commend the Counter Terrorism police for their decisive action in protecting the people of London from some cardboard signs opposing the genocide in Gaza and expressing support for those taking action to prevent it. It’s a relief to know that Counter Terrorism police have nothing better to do.”

Other arrests included a priest, an Emeritus Professor, a former government lawyer and a number of health professionals. Ms Zelter is said to be doing well.

Further such actions are expected to follow shortly.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “Officers arrested a 74-year-old woman on suspicion of offences under the Terrorism Act at a protest in support of Palestine Action, a proscribed organisation, in Parliament Square, Westminster on Saturday, 5 July.

“She was taken into custody at around 14:00hrs and was later released on bail pending further investigation.”