Nigel Farage has delivered a damning one word verdict on Greta Thunberg after the climate activist was arrested for “supporting terrorist group” in London.
The 22-year-old Swede was arrested by police in the City of London after attending a protest linked to jailed members of Palestine Action, who are currently on hunger strike.
The demonstration took place in the early hours on Fenchurch Street, where campaigners gathered in support of the prisoners.
Video circulated by organisers showed the 22-year-old activist holding a placard declaring support for Palestine Action detainees and condemning what she described as genocide.
Video circulated by organisers showed the 22-year-old activist holding a placard declaring support for Palestine Action detainees
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REUTERS
Reacting to Ms Thunberg’s arrest on Tuesday evening, the Reform UK leader reposted a video of the activist being detained by police, alongside the word “deport”.
Mr Farage has been a long-time critic of the Swede since she rose to prominence in 2019 after staging climate protests outside the Swedish Parliament.
He has previously accused Ms Thunberg of promoting “alarmism” around climate change.
In 2020, Mr Farage said he felt sorry for the young activist, saying she had been turned into a “tabloid star” and that “the people behind her are exploiting her”.
The Reform UK leader reposted a video of the activist being detained by police, alongside the word ‘deport’
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GETTY
The Swedish climate campaigner’s arrest is believed to be her seventh across five countries.
Ms Thunberg was arrested and deported from Israel in October after attempting to break the naval blockade of Gaza as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
The 22-year-old was among 437 campaigners, politicians and lawyers detained by Israeli forces who boarded the 40-vessel humanitarian convoy.
After her arrest in the City of London on Tuesday, police issued a statement which read: “A 24-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They glued themselves nearby and specialist officers released them, and brought them into police custody.
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The Swedish climate campaigner’s arrest is believed to be her seventh across five countries
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REUTERS
“A little while later, a 22-year-old woman also attended the scene. She was arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organisation (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.”
City of London Police confirmed Ms Thunberg had been released on bail to a date in March.
The Prisoners for Palestine group said it organised the protest outside Aspen Insurance, accusing the firm of having links to Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems
Palestine Action was added to the UK terrorism list earlier this year, making any support or endorsement of the group a criminal offence.
Police confirmed that investigations into the demonstration are ongoing.
Ms Thunberg’s arrest comes as several hunger-striking Palestine Action activists in prison, including one who has not eaten for 52 days, have recently been hospitalised.
Since the hunger strike began on November 2, seven activists have required medical attention.
A law firm representing the strikers said it sent a pre-action letter on Monday to Justice Secretary David Lammy.