By Islam El-Sakka
The Metropolitan Police has settled a legal claim brought by a 68-year-old pro-Palestinian activist who was arrested under anti-terrorism legislation at St Pancras International station.
Arrest at St Pancras
Tej Singh Bhandal was returning to the UK on Eurostar earlier this year when police pulled him from a queue. After refusing to provide his mobile phone PIN, he was arrested and charged under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, spending several hours in detention.
Settlement and Legal Challenge
The Met agreed to settle the claim and close the criminal investigation. Bhandal's lawyers said Scotland Yard accepted that supporting and funding lawful political protest organisations, including the BDS movement and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, does not automatically establish a link to terrorism.
Previous Arrest and Intelligence Flag
Bhandal described the arrest as "incredibly humiliating" and "an abuse of power," saying he was handcuffed and led through the station in public view. He believes an intelligence flag from a 2025 arrest over a Palestine Action incident at an Elbit Systems factory in Bristol led to the St Pancras detention.
Wider Context of Protest Arrests
The settlement came as more than two dozen protesters were arrested outside the Supreme Court during an appeal against the ban on Palestine Action. Bhandal's lawyer, Alex Kenney, called for adequate safeguards to prevent arbitrary use of anti-terrorism laws.
