COPS are braced for a terror attack in the UK after the Hamas massacre in Israel with 1,000 cops patrolling on high alert.
The Met said it is expecting thousands of people to travel into central London for the “March for Palestine” demonstration, which starts at 12pm and is due to finish in Whitehall at 3pm.
AFPPeople take part in a ‘Stand with Palestine’ demonstration, close to the Embassy of Israel, in west London[/caption]
GettyChaos erupted at a Tube station in West London earlier this week[/caption]
Metropolitan Police are prepared for unrest in the capital as rising tensions in the Middle East threatens to spark violence in Britain.
The latest Israel-Hamas war has claimed at least 3,200 lives on both sides since Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack on October 7.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told cops they have his full backing to throw the book at anyone glorifying terrorism – amid a 400 per cent increase in antisemitic attacks last week.
Metropolitan Police deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said a “very significant policing operation” was in place with more than a thousand officers dedicated to patrolling vulnerable locations.
He told journalists yesterday: “For the moment we are doing largely reassurance and protective security patrols but it would, of course, be absolutely remiss of us not to be working in the background from the counter terrorism policing perspective to understand should there be any increased threats.”
But Mr Taylor added that there had been no increase in the UK threat level which remains at “substantial” – meaning an attack is likely.
The DAC said that the UK counter terrorism network is looking into risks that may be created by such statements and whether that “increases the likelihood of any attacks”.
It comes after the former chief of terror group Hamas Khaled Meshaal called for a global day of rage against supporters of Israel wherever they are in the world.
Mr Taylor revealed police recorded 105 antisemitic incidents in London over the past two weeks, a more than seven-fold increase compared to the same period last year when there were 14.
He said: “That is a massive increase in antisemitic crime and incidents. The context is really challenging for us, we are seeing behaviours that are provocative, that are inciteful, we’ll address those whilst recognising the emotion and the activities and the incidents that are taking place overseas.”
Cops pointed out that expressing support for the Palestinian people more broadly, including flying the Palestinian flag, does not in itself constitute a criminal offence.
But a spokesperson said there were situations where a flag or banner, or the use of specific words or phrases, could be seen as intimidation, or even constitute intending to cause harassment, alarm or distress.
Mr Taylor added: “We will not tolerate celebration of terrorism and death.”
Earlier this week, Israel and Palestine protesters clashed in London as thousands of pro-Palestine supporters descended on the Israeli embassy.
Cops have arrested three people after desperately trying to keep the peace during the furious demonstration.
Footage has emerged showing two young women ripping down posters of missing Israelis outside Mornington Crescent Tube station in north London, as one of the pair shouted: “This is for Palestine.”
There were 75 criminal offences against the Jewish community in the past fortnight and 12 in the same period in 2022.
They included threats, graffiti and German military music being played outside synagogues.
Three North London Jewish schools have been forced to close and Mr Taylor says there is “huge concern from Jewish communities”.
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