UK charges women with terrorism offences over paraglider images at pro-Palestine protest

A UK court has charged two women with terrorism offences after having displayed pro-Hamas imagery at a London demonstration, organized by pro-Palestinian supporters.

As reported by BBC, the police warned on November 3 of the possible radicalisation as a result of the Israel-Gaza conflict as there have been growing tensions in Britain and elsewhere since a deadly Hamas attack on Israel last month and Israel's retaliation on Gaza, with tens of thousands of protesters taking part in pro-Palestinian marches demanding the British government call for a ceasefire.

The two women are accused of having worn stickers with images of paragliders at the protest, which occurred on October 14, associated with the attack as some Hamas fighters, which is recognized as a terrorist organization by the UK, used paragliders in the attack on Israel. The Crown Prosecution Service said the images "aroused reasonable suspicion that they are supporters of a proscribed organisation which is why they were charged under the Terrorism Act. They have been released on bail and are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 10 November.

In the meanwhile, the Head of the Metropolitan Police's Counter Terrorism Command warned that the public is concerned about "some people using the veil of legitimate protest to carry out criminal or even terrorist activity". They are currently also seeking for a man seen waving a placard with the words "I fully support Hamas" during another protest.