‘Jihad’ chants at rally, shouts of ‘God’s curse be upon the Jews’ in Whitehall, man waving flag on top of double-decker bus and Tube driver leading calls for ‘Free Palestine’: How Met Police failed to intervene during London’s pro-Palestine protests
- Do you know the names of the people in the videos? Email [email protected]
The Metropolitan Police was criticised today for the way it enforced pro-Palestine protests in London over the weekend.
Islamist fanatics from the extremist group Hazib ut-Tahrir were seen calling for ‘jihad’ at a rally while police stood by. Later, the force tweeted that the term ‘had a number of different meanings’.
On Whitehall, a man was filmed screaming in Arabic ‘God’s curse be upon the Jews’, while on Bond Street a demonstrator brazenly held a sign reading ‘I fully support Hamas’.
Suella Braverman is meeting Met chief Sir Mark Rowley today to demand answers over the force’s softly-softly approach to anti-Israel rallies. And Keir Starmer waded into the row, suggesting that the government needs to address ‘gaps in the law’.
Meanwhile, Transport for London is under pressure to sack a Tube driver who led passengers in anti-Israel chants including ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’. TfL claims not to know his identity.
Below are some of the most inflammatory incidents seen in London on Saturday –
1. Chants calling for jihad
In a demonstration outside the Egyptian embassy, members of the extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir – which has been banned in almost all Arab countries – were filmed shouting ‘jihad’ and calling for ‘Muslim armies’ to fight Israel.
Video shared on social media showed one speaker asking a crowd ‘What is the solution to liberate people from the concentration camp called Palestine?’ To this the crowd responded ‘jihad! jihad! jihad!’.
A poster held by organisers of the rally read: ‘Muslim Armies! Rescue the People of Palestine.’
Do you know the names of the people in the videos? Email [email protected]
In a demonstration outside the Egyptian Embassy in London on Saturday members of the extremist group Hazib ut-Tahrir were filmed shouting ‘jihad’
In a comment posted on Twitter at 4.27pm, the Met said: ‘The word jihad has a number of meanings but we know the public will most commonly associate it with terrorism.
‘We have specialist counter-terrorism officers here who have particular knowledge in this area.
‘They have assessed this video, filmed at the Hizb ut-Tahrir protest in central London today, and have not identified any offences arising from the specific clip.
‘However, recognising the way language like this will be interpreted by the public and the divisive impact it will have, officers have identified the man involved and will be speaking to him shortly to discourage any repeat of similar chanting.’
The Met later tweeted that the word ‘jihad’ had ‘multiple meanings’. Twitter users added a community note under the Met’s post
Eminent barrister David Wolfson said in response: ‘The word ”pusillanimous” has only one meaning.’
Hizb ut-Tahrir’s leader, Luqman Muqeem, previously said Hamas terrorists were ‘heroes’ for massacring Israelis and the attacks of October 7 had ‘made us all very, very happy’.
2. Man shouting ‘God’s curse be upon the Jews’
On Whitehall, a protester was filmed bellowing in Arabic ‘God’s curse be upon the Jews’ and ‘God’s curse upon Israel’.
The Met yesterday said that it had arrested the protester. They posted a photo of him on Twitter, writing: ‘Yesterday this man was filmed shouting racist abuse in Whitehall. Tonight he is in custody having been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred.’
But critics said the Met’s actions could have come sooner, with some labelling it ‘outrageous’ that officers did not intervene in the event.
During a separate demonstration on Saturday, a man was filmed waving an Islamic flag while reportedly shouting: ‘God’s curse be upon the Jews’ and ‘God’s curse upon Israel’
The Met replied to claims of ‘ISIS flags’ being waved at the protest by by saying they were actually banners containing the ‘shahada’, or the Islamic declaration of faith. Prof Peter Neumann, from the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, later told the Telegraph: ‘It’s the Islamic proclamation of faith against a black background. This is often used by jihadists, but not exclusively so’
The same protester was seen carrying a black and white Islamic flag. This was also seen being waved by other demonstrators.
The Met replied to claims it was an ‘ISIS flag’ by saying it was a banner showing the ‘shahada’, or the Islamic declaration of faith.
Prof Peter Neumann, from the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, later told the Telegraph: ‘It’s the Islamic proclamation of faith against a black background. This is often used by jihadists, but not exclusively so.’
3. Tube driver leading ‘From the river to the sea’ chat
A London tube driver led a chant of ‘Free, free Palestine’ for the hundreds of people packed tightly into busy train on Saturday.
Others aboard the train told MailOnline the driver told his passengers that he wanted to join the protest, but hadn’t been able to get the day off, before encouraging them to chant: ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’
This chant is a controversial form of protest which some argue is inherently anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic – something which Palestinians and their supporters deny.
Video circulating online appears to show the Central Line driver leading a chant of ‘Free, free Palestine’ for the hundreds of people packed tightly into busy train
The Met Police this week issued updated guidance around the chant due to the strength of feeling which it evokes, saying officers will not be treating it as unlawful unless it is specifically used to intimidate members of the Jewish community.
British Transport Police Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan told Sky News that the force was ‘aware of footage circulating on social media which suggests chants are led by a driver of a train in London earlier.
‘BTP are working with Transport for London and investigating the matter.’
TfL is under pressure to sack the driver but claims not to know his identity.
4. Pro-Palestine protester climbs on bus
The Met shared an image of a protester waving a Palestinian flag on top of a bus in Whitehall and said officers had ‘engaged swiftly with this individual’ who was ‘now down safely’.
But a video later surfaced which appeared to show the same protester welcomed off the bus by cheering crowds without the police intervening.
A man climbs down from the top of a bus in Whitehall after waving a Palestinian flag
A video appeared to show the protester being welcomed off the bus by cheering crowds without the police intervening
5. Man ‘helped down’ from scaffolding
Another demonstrator was filmed climbing up scaffolding near Green Park station.
A witness told the Telegraph he set off flares while at least six officers watched from from the ground.
Footage shared on social media at 3.20pm showed the protester apparently being greeted by police after he climbed down.
Footage shared on social media at 3.20pm showed the protester apparently being greeted by police after he climbed down scaffolding near Green Park station
The man smiled as police allowed him to walk away following the stunt
Lawyers said it is a criminal offence to set off a firework in a public place unless part of an organised event by licensed professionals.
They also suggested the man was trespassing while he climbed the scaffolding.
6. ‘I fully support Hamas’ placard
One demonstrator on Saturday had a placard reading ‘I fully support Hamas’. The group is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK.
The Met tweeted last night: ‘Our #PublicOrder crime team have been working hard over the last two days & are asking for your assistance.
‘This image has been sent into us and was taken on Bond Street W1 yesterday, 21/10/2023.
‘Were you there? Did you see who was holding this sign? Please call us on 101 quoting Crime Reference Number 5121298/23. We really appreciate your help.’
One demonstrator on Saturday had a placard reading ‘I fully support Hamas’. The group is a proscribed terrorist organisation in the UK
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