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Exactly 175 individuals were detained in the heart of London during protests in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action, according to the London police force.

Organizers said hundreds participated in protests supporting Palestine Action – an organization which was proscribed by the government in July, rendering it unlawful to express backing or affiliation to them.

Demonstrations went ahead despite appeals from government officials and law enforcement who called for protests to be delayed following the recent fatal synagogue attack in Manchester.

Sir Keir Starmer had encouraged protesters to "honor the sorrow of the Jewish community", while Jewish figures also criticized the demonstrations.

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Defend Our Juries representative, Sir Jonathon Porritt, said he had "absolute certainty" that "all participants taking part in the silent vigil today will demonstrate huge respect and real grief for those affected by the absolute atrocity at Heaton Park".

"It is my belief that implies that we should be expected to relinquish on our entitlement to stand up for those who are being ravaged by an ongoing, real-time mass killing in Gaza."

Those participating "would have the profound worry about growing levels of antisemitism", he further stated.

Prior to the demonstrations, the Met Police said it would deploy 1,500 personnel to the central London location to manage the demonstrators.

In an update on the weekend, the Met said the bulk of those detained were taken into custody for assembling in the square; while a half-dozen were detained for displaying a banner backing the banned group on the bridge earlier in the day.

The force said each arrest took time because "many of those detained won't walk out of the square and had to be physically removed".

The police clarified this is a procedure which requires a at least of five officers to do so safely.

On the previous day, the London police wrote to the organizers to express worries about the quantity of law enforcement personnel the demonstration would divert at a time when "visible reassurance and protective measures" was needed for the public.

But the organization, which has led protests against the prohibition on the group, defied these calls and proceeded with the demonstration.

Minutes before the primary demonstration started in Trafalgar Square, Defend Our Juries managed to hold two signs over the north side of the bridge which stated: "I am against mass killing" and "I support Palestine Action".

The police reported personnel took down the signs minutes later, and arrested those participating for supporting a banned group.

A comparable event organized by Greater Manchester Friends of Palestine also occurred where a crowd of around 100 pro-Palestinian supporters assembled outside Manchester Cathedral ahead of a march.

The protests were held just days after two Jewish men – Adrian Daulby and Melvin Cravitz – were killed after Jihad Al-Shamie used a vehicle into people outside a Manchester synagogue.

The knifeman then attempted to enter his way into the synagogue before being shot dead by specialist officers. Three others were injured in the incident.

Ahead of the protests, the Community Security Trust – which provides security for the Jewish community – told the press, the protests were "extremely insensitive".

"Given the numerous individuals who claim to care about human rights and value liberties, to be diverting police resources away from safeguarding the entitlements and freedoms of the Jewish community to live their lives and attend worship in safety, all to back a proscribed terrorist organisation, which is not the same thing as supporting the Palestinians."

"These aspects are distinct. And I think it's remarkably self absorbed and tactless to say the least."

The organization has called on the police to "prioritise protecting the community, rather than arresting those peacefully displaying banners" in support of the banned group.

The authorities proscribed Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation in July, after activists broke into an military installation and damaged two air force planes earlier in the year.

At various protests since then, hundreds have been detained for expressing backing for the group, which has gained approval to challenge the ban.