London police arrest 86 after protesters breach prison grounds at Wormwood Scrubs
Police in London arrested 86 people on suspicion of aggravated trespass after a protest supporting a Palestine Action-linked activist on hunger strike breached the grounds of HMP Wormwood Scrubs. Authorities said the group refused orders to leave, allegedly blocked staff access, and attempted to enter a prison building via a staff entrance area, though security was not compromised.
British police said 86 people were arrested after a protest outside HMP Wormwood Scrubs in west London escalated into a breach of the prison grounds. The Metropolitan Police said the group was detained on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
According to police, protesters entered the grounds and then refused to leave when instructed. Officers said demonstrators allegedly obstructed prison staff from entering and leaving and made threats toward police, prompting a large response and a mass arrest operation.
Police also said several people managed to access a staff entrance area of a prison building, but authorities believed they did not get beyond security. Officials emphasized that, despite the disturbance, prison security was not breached in a way that endangered the facility’s overall integrity.
The protest centered on support for a Palestine Action-linked activist reported to be on hunger strike. The incident reflects the intensifying pressure campaigns that have targeted prisons, courts, and government institutions in recent months, and it raises renewed questions about how authorities balance protest rights with the protection of critical infrastructure.
A Ministry of Justice spokesperson described the escalation as deeply concerning, while noting that the right to peaceful protest remains protected under UK law. The arrests are expected to be followed by charging decisions as investigators review footage and witness statements.