Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja detained under UK anti-terror laws at Gaza solidarity protest

Robert Del Naja, a member of the British music group Massive Attack, was detained under UK anti-terror laws while attending a solidarity protest for Gaza in Liverpool, according to a report from Anadolu Agency.

The report did not provide further detail on the specific circumstances of the detention or the particular legal provisions invoked, though it noted that Del Naja's arrest occurred in connection with his presence at the demonstration.

Protests in solidarity with Gaza have taken place in cities across the United Kingdom, with demonstrators expressing support for Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Some such protests have drawn police intervention, including arrests under laws intended to address terrorism-related offenses, in cases where authorities have linked participants or displayed material to proscribed organizations.

Massive Attack, known for its music and long-standing public activism on various political causes, has previously voiced support for Palestinian rights, though the report does not specify further context behind Del Naja's individual arrest.

Broader context of UK protests

The detention adds to a series of incidents in which demonstrators at pro-Palestinian protests in the UK have faced arrest under anti-terror legislation, a pattern that has drawn criticism from civil liberties advocates who argue the laws are being applied too broadly, while authorities maintain that enforcement is necessary in specific cases involving alleged support for proscribed groups.