Police assessing post by national security adviser's wife backing Palestine Action

British police said on Friday they are assessing a social media post after the wife of National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell appeared to express support for Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian group banned as a terrorist organisation, Reuters reported.

Journalist and author Sarah Helm, who is married to Powell, responded on X to a post about Irish novelist Sally Rooney, who announced this week that her books would no longer be sold in Britain because she plans to use her royalties to support Palestine Action. Helm wrote: “God help us authors who support Palestine and Palestine Action.”

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the post is “being assessed to determine whether any further police investigation may be required”. Palestine Action was proscribed under terrorism laws last year, so expressing support for the group constitutes a criminal offence.

Asked for comment, a government spokeswoman said: “These views are held by an individual who does not represent the government in any capacity.”

Four members of the group were jailed in June over a 2024 raid on a factory operated by Israeli defence firm Elbit that caused more than £1 million of damage. Amnesty International says more than 3,500 people have been arrested in Britain for alleged support of Palestine Action since it was banned, many for holding up placards. The Court of Appeal ruled in June that the proscription was lawful.