QUAKERS have condemned the arrests of six people at Westminster Meeting House as an “aggressive violation.”

More than 30 police stormed a welcome talk held by environmental and pro-Palestine group Youth Demand in central London on Thursday, activists said.

A person attending their first talk and a journalist were among those held, according to the group. 

Police confirmed that six people had been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.

“No-one has been arrested in a Quaker meeting house in living memory,” recording clerk for Quakers in Britain Paul Parker said today.

“This aggressive violation of our place of worship and the forceful removal of young people holding a protest group meeting clearly shows what happens when a society criminalises protest.

“Freedom of speech, assembly, and fair trials are an essential part of free public debate which underpins democracy.”

Youth Demand said the meeting was intended as an opportunity to share plans for non-violent civil resistance actions taking place next month.

The group has been staging protests calling for a full arms embargo on Israel and for the British government to halt all new oil and gas licences granted since 2021.

In a statement, Quakers in Britain said: “Quakers support the right to non-violent public protest, acting themselves from a deep moral imperative to stand up against injustice and for our planet.

“Many have taken non-violent direct action over the centuries — from the abolition of slavery to women’s suffrage and prison reform.”

On Friday, police arrested a further five Youth Demand activists on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.