Author Sally Rooney said she did not travel to the UK to collect a book prize this week as she was concerned she may be arrested over her support of protest group Palestine Action, which has been banned under British terrorism laws.

The Irish novelist has been donating money to the group, which was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK government in July, after activists broke into an RAF base and caused ?7m of damage to two jets.

Palestine Action has been targeting firms in the UK linked to the Israeli military since its founding four years ago.

Rooney, 34, who won a Sky Arts award for novel Intermezzo, said in a statement read out for her at the ceremony: "I'm advised that I can no longer safely enter the UK without potentially facing arrest".

The statement, read by Rooney's publisher Alex Bowler, also said: "I wish that I could be with you this evening to accept the honour in person," adding that she was showing "support for non-violent anti-war protest".

"In that context, I want to thank you all the more warmly for honouring my work tonight, and to reiterate my belief in the dignity and beauty of all human life, and my solidarity with the people of Palestine," it also said.

Rooney said in August she was using the proceeds from her four books and income from the BBC TV adaptations of Normal People and Conversations with Friends to support Palestine Action.

She is not currently working with the BBC on any upcoming projects and has never been a member of staff.

The government proscribed Palestine Action under anti-terrorism legislation in July, making membership of or support for the group a criminal offence, punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

Funding a group banned under terrorism legislation is an equally serious offence.

Many of the group's protests involve break-ins and vandalism - but the government has said three incidents amounted to terrorism, because of the huge scale of the criminal damage allegedly caused.

About 30 people are facing trials in relation to these incidents, some of which involved allegations of violence against police and security who tried to intervene.

Last week, 890 people were arrested at a demonstration against the ban on Palestine Action in London on Saturday according to the Metropolitan Police.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said last week: Supporting Palestine and supporting a proscribed terrorist group are not the same thing."

She also said she "backed officers" who had arrested those supporting the group.

Palestine Action's co-founder is challenging the ban on the group in the High Court. However, next week the government will ask senior judges in the Court of Appeal to stop that going ahead.

Police have warned people considering supporting Palestine Action to think through the consequences of receiving a terrorism conviction.

They say the ban on one specific group does not interfere with the right to protest about the war in Gaza.(BBC)

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