Protestors took to the streets of London on Sunday 1 December after seven people were arrested by counter-terrorism police for suspected activity linked to the banned militant group, the Kurdistan Workers party (PKK).
Eight addresses, including the Kurdish Community Centre, were raided by the police in the early hours on Wednesday 27 November.
Five men and two women have now been detained under section 41(1) of the Terrorism Act.
Following the arrests, large crowds gathered outside the centre in Haringey Green Lanes and remained there into the evening.
Videos show dozens of police forming a line and pushing protesters back.
Speaking outside the encampment after the demonstration, Aso Kamalî of the Kurdish People’s Assembly in the UK, an advocacy group for the Kurdish community, said: “The police came here to incite violence. We have to unite and we have to protect democracy.”
In response to the accusations of police brutality, a Met Police spokesperson said: “These are targeted arrests of those we suspect of being involved in terrorist activity linked to the group.
“This investigation and activity is about protecting all of our communities, but particularly those in our Turkish and Kurdish communities.”
The police have urged anyone who thinks they may have been affected or targeted by those linked to the PKK to get in touch.
There is not believed to be any imminent threat to the public linked to the matters under investigation.
Image credit: Aso Kamalî, Kurdish People’s Assembly UK
Third-party footage credit: Police raids, Kurdish community singing and dancing – Aso Kamalî, Kurdish People’s Assembly UK
Join the discussion