Met Police settles claim with Palestine activist Tej Singh Bhandal
Force agrees to close criminal investigation against 68-year-old detained under terrorism law at St Pancras International.
The Metropolitan Police has settled a legal claim brought by Tej Singh Bhandal, a 68-year-old pro-Palestinian activist, who alleged he was treated "like a criminal" during his arrest under anti-terrorism legislation. The settlement includes the closure of the criminal investigation against Bhandal.
Mr Bhandal was detained by officers at St Pancras International station earlier this year while returning to the UK on the Eurostar. He was arrested under schedule seven of the Terrorism Act 2000 after refusing to provide police with the PIN code to his mobile phone. He spent several hours in police custody.
Police acceptance on protest links
Lawyers representing Mr Bhandal stated that Scotland Yard has acknowledged that supporting and funding lawful political protest organisations, specifically naming the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, does not automatically establish a connection to terrorism. Alex Kenney, a civil liberties lawyer from Hodge Jones + Allen, which represented Mr Bhandal, said that adequate safeguards are necessary to prevent the "arbitrary" application of anti-terrorism laws.
Ms Kenney added that the hope is Mr Bhandal's case will lead to more rigorous adherence to statutory obligations under the Terrorism Act and influence future police conduct. The Metropolitan Police has been approached for comment regarding the settlement.
Activist's experience
Mr Bhandal described his detention as "incredibly humiliating" and an "abuse of power." He told the Press Association that he was handcuffed and escorted through the station in public view, feeling like a "tabloid newspaper stereotype of a person of colour" and being treated as a criminal.
He believes an "intelligence flag" was placed on his name following a previous arrest in 2025. That arrest was part of a police inquiry into an incident at an Elbit Systems factory in Bristol, linked to Palestine Action. During that investigation, his home was searched, and his electronic devices were seized, but no further action was taken.
Mr Bhandal suggested that individuals are being "singled out by the authorities for activism" and that the "creeping criminalisation of protest action is a consequence of government policy."
Questions this report answers
01Why was Tej Singh Bhandal arrested?
Tej Singh Bhandal was arrested under schedule seven of the Terrorism Act 2000 at St Pancras International. He was detained after refusing to provide police with the PIN code to his mobile phone. He spent several hours in police custody.
02What did the Metropolitan Police accept in the settlement?
According to Mr Bhandal's lawyers, the Metropolitan Police accepted that supporting and funding lawful political protest organisations, such as the BDS movement and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, does not automatically establish a link to terrorism. The criminal investigation against Mr Bhandal has also been closed.
03How did Tej Singh Bhandal describe his arrest?
Tej Singh Bhandal described his arrest as "incredibly humiliating" and "an abuse of power." He told the Press Association that he felt he was treated like a criminal and was a stereotype of a person of colour, being handcuffed and led through the station in full view of the public.
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