Met appeals for help identifying protesters holding 'hate crime' placards during pro-Palestinian march

November 12, 2023

The Metropolitan Police has released images of protesters they are looking to identify "in relation to a hate crime" at Saturday's pro-Palestinian march.

The force shared pictures in a series of social media posts and appealed for anyone who can identify those pictured to contact police.

Hundreds of thousands of people took part in a march in the capital on Saturday, calling for a ceasefire in Israel's war against Palestinian militant group Hamas.

While the demonstration remained largely peaceful, images quickly began circulating online showing several protesters carrying antisemitic placards.

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One image showed a woman carrying a sign featuring the Jewish Star of David wrapped around a Nazi swastika, with the slogan: "No British politician should be a 'friend of Israel'."

Another showed individuals wearing what were described as Hamas-style headbands.

As protesters gathered at the start of the route at Hyde Park, chants of "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", could also be heard.

The slogan is viewed by many Jews as antisemitic, and is taken to mean a call for the eradication of Israel.

Sky News saw graffiti on the route of the protest comparing what is happening in Gaza with the Holocaust, although it is not known if this was made by anyone on the march.

Government cabinet minister Michael Gove was also seen in footage being mobbed by pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Victoria station.

Police said 145 arrests had been made following the march and the counter protest by far-right groups.

Seven people have been charged with a range of offences including assault, possession of weapons, inciting racial hatred and possession of drugs

Around 150 pro-Palestinian protesters were intercepted by officers after breaking away from the march through London. It is understood that not all of these protesters were arrested.

Earlier, the Met said it had arrested 92 right-wing protesters after clashes with police.

Some 15 officers were injured, two requiring hospital treatment, as they prevented a violent crowd getting to the Cenotaph while a remembrance service was taking place.

In a statement, Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist described the "extreme violence" from the right-wing protestors towards the police as "extraordinary and deeply concerning".

Assistant Commissioner Twist added that police also saw breakaway groups from the pro-Palestinian march behaving in an "intimidating manner".

"While the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) march did not see the sort of physical violence carried out by the right-wing, we know that for London's Jewish communities whose fears and concerns we absolutely recognise, the impact of hate crime and in particular antisemitic offences is just as significant," he said.

"Officers intercepted a group of 150 who were wearing face coverings and firing fireworks. Arrests were made after some of the fireworks struck officers in the face."

He said there were also a number of serious offences identified in relation to hate crime and possible support for proscribed organisations that police are actively investigating.

He added that locating and intercepting suspects had not just been challenging due to the size of the crowd, but also due to the number of officers they had to deploy "in response to violence from the right-wing groups".

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has told Sky News he was "sure there are far more arrests still to be made" from the march.

Mr Shapps suggested arrests were not made because "either the police were distracted here (at the Cenotaph) or because they weren't able to intervene immediately".

"Certainly that was the impression I got. In fact, when I spoke to the Met commissioner last night at the festival of remembrance he made that point clear to me," he told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.

Read more on Sky News:
Analysis: Met chief has firmer grasp on liberal democracy than Braverman
Netanyahu vows to press on against Hamas with 'full force'

Incidents of antisemitism were criticised by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who also condemned the far-right protesters who gathered as Armistice Day was being marked.

Mr Sunak said: "I condemn the violent, wholly unacceptable scenes we have seen... from the EDL (English Defence League) and associated groups and Hamas sympathisers attending the National March for Palestine.

"The despicable actions of a minority of people undermine those who have chosen to express their views peacefully."

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