Massive Attack frontman arrested outside Labour conference over Palestine Action placard
Developing story first seen 4 hours ago
The new report confirms that Massive Attack frontman Robert Del Naja was arrested on 26 September outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool after displaying a placard supporting Palestine Action. Police reportedly arrested him on suspicion of supporting a proscribed terrorist organisation, making the incident significant in the continuing dispute over protest rights, the UK’s terrorism laws and policy towards Israel and Palestine.
Palestine Action was proscribed by the UK government in 2025 after reported criminal-damage incidents, making public support for the group a potential criminal offence. This is Del Naja’s second arrest this year over similar protests; he and Massive Attack collaborator Grant Marshall were also detained and barred indefinitely from Singapore after displaying Palestinian flags and chanting “Free Palestine” at a July concert. Del Naja has not yet issued a statement, while the Labour conference runs from 27 to 30 September.
- Robert Del Naja was arrested at the Labour conference.
- Police allege he supported proscribed group Palestine Action.
- The arrest is his second over similar protests this year.
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Robert Del Naja is the frontman of Massive Attack, a British music group that emerged in the 1990s and has remained culturally significant. He was arrested on 26 September outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool whilst displaying a placard in support of Palestine Action, a campaign group focused on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Palestine Action is an activist organisation that the UK government designated as a proscribed terrorist organisation in 2025 following reported incidents of criminal damage. Since this designation, public display of support for the group—including carrying placards or statements backing it—became a criminal offence under UK terrorism laws, which is why Del Naja's arrest was made on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation.
The arrest raises wider questions about where the line sits between protest and criminal activity in the UK, particularly on matters relating to Israel and Palestine. Del Naja has been arrested twice this year over protest activity: he was also detained in Singapore in July for displaying Palestinian flags at a concert. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between protest rights, counter-terrorism legislation, and public discourse around Middle Eastern politics.
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Originally published by Far Out as “Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja arrested for supporting Palestine Action outside Labour conference”.