A tense, extended stand-off between police and an antisemitism campaigner where he was called “openly Jewish” and threatened with arrest yards from a pro-Palestinian march was caught on film by Sky News.
The footage gives context to the lengthy and fraught exchanges amid an increasingly volatile atmosphere, as the head of the Metropolitan Police faces calls to resign following the incident.
Scotland Yard has already had to apologise twice after a short video clip emerged on social media, where Gideon Falter, chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, was blocked by an officer close to the protest in the Aldwych area of London on Saturday 13 April.
An initial apology by Met assistant commissioner Matt Twist had to be retracted after it suggested the presence of Mr Falter, who was wearing a kippah skull cap, was “provocative”, leading to a rebuke from the Home Office.
Mr Twist has since offered a private meeting to Mr Falter to both apologise personally and “discuss what more the Met can do to ensure Jewish Londoners feel safe”.
London mayor Sadiq Khan will hold an “urgent meeting” with Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley on Monday, while Home Secretary James Cleverly and policing minister Chris Philp will also meet him this week.
So Gideon Falter turned up at the march with his own security team.
Waited for the march, then tried to cross the road.
13 minute clip now released shows the Police trying to de escalate.
Once again people for for this contrived outrage INCLUDING the PM and Home Secretary!… pic.twitter.com/Z1gEoGu8cE
— UNN (@UnityNewsNet) April 22, 2024