Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja arrested again at pro-Palestine protest: “I don’t recognise the offence”

Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja has been arrested for a second time over his support for Palestine Action, telling police: “I don’t recognise the offence.”.

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Del Naja, also known as 3D, was arrested in Liverpool yesterday (September 26) outside the venue for the Labour Party Conference after sitting with a paper sign reading: “I oppose genocide.

Footage shared by campaign group Defend Our Juries shows police approaching Del Naja and telling him that displaying the sign amounts to an offence because Palestine Action remains a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000.

One officer asks: “Is there anything I can do to have a conversation with you to move you out of the area, because you are committing an offence?”.

Del Naja replies: “Yeah, I don’t recognise the offence, though, because under UK law it is actually an offence to aid and abet any private individual or company aiding and abetting genocidal war crimes.”.

When the officer reminds him that Palestine Action is proscribed, Del Naja responds: “I don’t agree with the proscription.”.

He was then arrested on suspicion of showing support for a proscribed organisation.

A detenção ocorreu na véspera da primeira Conferência do Partido Trabalhista do Primeiro‑Ministro Andy Burnham desde que entrou em Downing Street em julho.

Shortly before his arrest, Del Naja appeared alongside Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori and human rights barrister Michael Mansfield KC in a pre-recorded message calling on Burnham to remove the group from the government’s list of proscribed organisations.

Del Naja and Burnham previously appeared on the same platform in 2025 in support of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, which Burnham signed on behalf of Greater Manchester.

More recently, Del Naja and other members of Massive Attack joined Thom Yorke, Robert Smith, Brian Eno and more than 200 musicians in pressuring Burnham to reject plans for the Rosebank oil field.

Palestine Action foi proscrita pelo governo do Reino Unido em julho de 2025. O governo da época afirmou que o grupo havia ultrapassado o limiar do terrorismo por meio de atos que envolviam danos graves à propriedade, incluindo ações direcionadas a empresas de defesa e à RAF Brize Norton.

The ban has since been subject to extensive legal challenges. In February, the High Court ruled the proscription unlawful and disproportionate, a decision welcomed by Massive Attack.

However, the Court of Appeal overturned that ruling in June and held that the proscription was lawful. The Supreme Court subsequently granted limited permission for a further appeal, which is scheduled to be heard in November.

Massive Attack tem sido vocal em apoio aos palestinos há décadas e tem boicotado apresentações em Israel desde 1999.

They have also backed the No Music For Genocide campaign alongside Fontaines D. C., Amyl & The Sniffers and hundreds of other artists, and recently criticised the decision to remove Macklemore from Ed Sheeran’s US tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks.

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