Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has labelled Palestine Action more than “a regular protest group” as she defended the group’s proscription as a terrorist organisation.

She said protest and free speech remain “an important part of our democracy” which will “always be protected”, but argued Palestine Action has carried out “an escalating campaign”.

Writing in The Observer, she said: “Some may think it is a regular protest group known for occasional stunts. But that is not the extent of its past activities.”

Ms Cooper said counterterrorism intelligence showed the organisation passed the tests to be proscribed under the 2000 Terrorism Act with “disturbing information” about future attacks.

In a democracy, lawful protest is a fundamental right but violent criminality is not Home Secretary Yve

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