Violent clashes broke out between pro-Palestinian protesters and police outside the gates of Downing Street this evening just hours after a terror attack at a Manchester synagogue.
Thousands of people waving Palestinian flags gathered in central London on the same day two Jewish worshippers were killed and three others injured in the car and knife attack.
They were responding to an earlier call to protest against the arrest of Greta Thunberg. The news emerges as Manchester synagogue attacker named after 2 killed.
Jihad Al-Shamie was shot dead by police on Thursday morning moments after he targeted worshippers at Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester shortly before 9.30am.
The attack took place on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
Police vans deployed as scuffles break out
Videos of the London protest show three police vans and scores of officers at the scene, some scuffling with demonstrators.
Another clip showed demonstrators in Leeds shouting “death, death to the IDF”.
Posters shared on social media urged pro-Palestinian activists to converge on 19 locations around the UK between 5.30pm and 6pm on Thursday. Most of them were major railway stations, reports The Telegraph.
Among the locations where protesters were urged to gather included Parliament Square in London, Cardiff Central, Sheffield railway station, Farnborough station in Surrey, Manchester Piccadilly and Liverpool Lime Street.
Activist dismisses synagogue attack
A pro-Palestinian campaigner in Westminster said today’s terror attack pales in comparison to the plight of Greta Thunberg’s flotilla.
Fiona Smith, 42, told The Telegraph: “I don’t give a f— about the Jewish community right now. I thought about it and I’m sorry about what happened, but the whole story and why we’re here is because of what happened yesterday [with the flotilla].”
The Swedish climate change activist and a group of friends were detained off the Israeli coast earlier this week after attempting to sail an aid flotilla to Gaza. She is expected to be deported from the Jewish nation in due course.
Ms Smith’s friend, Sibilla Todaro, 39, who was also at the protest and lives in London, added: “The fact that they’ve been attacked doesn’t mean that we’ve not been attacked as well.
“We’ve been attacked for three years. The fact that we’re here does not mean that we do not respect them and we do not feel sorry for what happened, which is obviously a tragic incident. But we shouldn’t [stop everything] the show must go on.
“None of us are against the Jewish community – we’re against Zionism. There’s a lot of Jewish people here with us protesting, which clearly means they condemn what happened today as well as they support this. They’re not mutually exclusive.
“This is an emergency protest because there has been an attack yesterday – they’ve taken and effectively kidnapped a bunch of people in the flotilla from different countries in international waters and that’s a crime.
“But no one’s doing anything against Israel, because Israel is supported by the United States.”
New York tourist caught up in protest
Justin Alintoff, 26, a tourist from New York who became caught up in the protest, said the sentiment was sad to see but unsurprising.
He said: “I think the problem is, when you ask the protesters here about the attack, they say, ‘It shouldn’t have happened, but…’
“But I don’t think there should be a ‘but’ after any terrorist attack, especially one which kills people that are trying to worship in peace.
“And so, I think it’s sad. It’s a shame. And unfortunately, it’s a part of Jewish history that we’ve been oppressed, we’ve been attacked.
“I’m from New York, and from those who I’ve spoken to, I’ve heard that people are extremely concerned and threatened in London.”
Scuffles break out in Manchester city centre
Scuffles also broke out at a pro-Palestinian march in the centre of Manchester.
Earlier in the day, police said they would allow a protest to go ahead at Manchester Piccadilly railway station just hours after the synagogue attack.
British Transport Police (BTP) said they would “facilitate peaceful protest” but warned officers would intervene if protesters tried to gain access to the station.
One woman, who lost her hat in a scuffle, said: “I’m just so upset this has been held today. I’m all for free speech on any other day but it’s not right to be doing this today.”
Also among the critics was Nick Voss, 49, who said: “After what’s happened today, this should have been cancelled out of respect. I know that they are on an opposing side, but I think it should have been cancelled.
“We all have a right to protest but these guys aren’t respectful. As far as I’m concerned, they’re terror supporters and far-Left communists and they disgust me to my absolute core.”
He added: “It was upsetting to see what happened in Heaton Park, I know a couple of people who were nearby when it happened and they’re shocked.
“I’ve come today to stand against this protest and I’ll do it every single week.”
Police warn protesters over railway disruption plans
Regarding the planned disruption to British railway services, Assistant Chief Constable Sean O’Callaghan of BTP said: “This is a direct appeal to anyone considering protesting on the railway network this evening – I urge you to think again.
“The railway is an incredibly dangerous environment and stepping on to railway tracks could very easily result in serious injury or death.
“Everyone has the right to protest but anyone wishing to do so should not be thinking about putting their lives, or anyone else’s, at risk by doing so on the tracks.
“I’d like to also take this opportunity to remind protesters that trespassing is a criminal offence and anyone responsible for unlawfully disrupting the network can expect to be arrested for obstructing the railway, a very serious offence which could lead to imprisonment.”
March needs to be stopped
Alex Hearn, co-director of Labour Against Antisemitism said: “These so-called ‘pro-Palestinian’ marches have been characterised by anti-Jewish racism in placards, slogans and speeches.
“To go ahead with one in Manchester just days after a deadly attack against the Jewish community there is not just tone deaf – they list a proscribed terrorist group as a supporter.
“Like the celebratory rallies organised on Oct 7, this march is an unacceptable state of affairs that needs to be stopped for the public order.”