Pro-Palestine activists vow to go ahead with protest as Met warns it ‘risks further tensions’

Defend Our Juries will march on the streets of London in support of banned group Palestine Action this weekend, despite the Metropolitan Police warning it could “create further tensions and some might say lacks sensitivity”.

But the group argues its planned protest has nothing to do with the terror attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on Thursday – which saw a car drive into worshippers as they gathered to celebrate Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Jihad al Shamie, then went on to stab members of the public before being shot dead outside the synagogue.

Two people, who have since been named, died and four more are critically injured following the attack.

A Defend Our Juries spokesperson said the group’s thoughts “are with everyone who has lost loved ones in the horrific attack on Heaton Park Synagogue”.

“We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community across the UK,” the spokesperson added.

Read more: Manchester synagogue killer's family condemns 'heinous act'

Read more: Home Secretary condemns pro-Palestine march in wake of Manchester synagogue attack

But the group has warned that postponing its planned protest on Saturday, as requested by the Met, risks “conflating the actions of state of Israel with Jewish people around the world”.

“Our action tomorrow will see 1,500 people – including priests, vicars, pensioners and healthcare workers – peacefully sitting holding cardboard signs saying ‘I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action’,” the spokesperson said.

They added: “The police had called on us to cancel tomorrow’s protest before the disturbing news emerged that one of the victims at Heaton Park Synagogue was shot by the police.

“Many Jewish supporters of Defend Our Juries have warned that postponing tomorrow’s action would risk conflating the actions of state of Israel with Jewish people around the world, as Netanyahu seeks to do – who bear no responsibility for Israel’s crimes, which could fuel antisemitic hatred and prejudice.

“It couldn’t be clearer that tomorrow’s action – which is in Trafalgar Square and not near any synagogue – is about defying the Government’s absurdly authoritarian proscription of Palestine Action and the Government’s complicity in the genocide being committed by the Israeli Government.”

They joined others across the country in condemning act of terror yesterday “unreservedly” and urged Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and the police to “prioritise protecting the community, instead of arresting entirely peaceful protesters".

The spokesperson added: “Cancelling peaceful protests lets terror win. It’s more important than ever to defend our democracy, including our fundamental rights to peaceful protest and freedom of speech, and to take A stand tomorrow against killing and against oppression, and for peace and justice for all.”

It comes after the head of the Met warned that of banned terror group Palestine Action who plan to protest on Saturday “should not think for a moment that their offending will go unpoliced”.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “The horrific attack in Manchester has caused significant fear and concern in communities across the UK, including here in London.

“Yet at a time when we want to be deploying every available officer to ensure the safety of those communities, we are instead having to plan for a gathering of more than 1,000 people in Trafalgar Square on Saturday in support of a terrorist organisation."

He warned that Defend Our Juries’ protest will draw “valuable resources away from the communities of London at a time when they are needed most.”

Sir Mark added: “People have been debating for the last two years whether pro-Palestinian protests are simply a call for peace, or have an implicit intention to stir up antisemitism.

“Continuing such protests within hours of Thursday’s awful terrorist murder of British Jews, when communities are most fearful, will likely create further tensions and some might say lacks sensitivity.

“It is for these reasons we have asked Defend our Juries to delay or cancel their protest this weekend. However if they fail to do so, they should not think for a moment that their offending will go unpoliced.”

Sir Mark echoed earlier comments made by the Home Secretary, who told LBC earlier today that protesters “don’t cause any favours by behaving in this way”.

“If the point of protest is to stand up for something and persuade other people that you are right, then I think this is entirely the wrong way to go about it, but that is on their conscience,” she said.

The Home Secretary added said she was “very disappointed” by protests that took place on Thursday night in the wake of the attacks.

“I think that behaviour is fundamentally un-British. I think it’s dishonourable,” she added.

Some 40 people were arrested in the course of a large protest outside Downing Street, six of whom were arrested for assaults on police officers, according to the Met.