Thousands march against antisemitism in London as Tommy Robinson arrested - latest
Crowds gathered to show solidarity with the Jewish community in the UK as more hostages released from Hamas captivity
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Tens of thousands of people attended a march against antisemitism in London on Sunday amid fears about rising antisemitic incidents sparked by the crisis in the Middle East.
The event was held the day after the latest in a series of pro-Palestinian protests in the capital called again for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson was among those attending and compared antisemitism with “an old spore of a virus”.
Tommy Robinson was arrested at the march after organisers had raised concerns and police warned the far-right was “not welcome”.
There was only one other arrest at the event, which was organised by the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism.
It came as the Israeli military said that 14 Israelis and three foreign nationals had been released from captivity in Gaza, on the third day of a four-day truce.
The father of a young Irish-Israeli girl released by Hamas on Saturday has said she is doing “better than expected”, and has thanked the public for their support. Thomas Hand had feared his daughter Emily had been killed in the Hamas attacks but they were reunited at the weekend
Quick recap on yesterday
Tens of thousands attended the march against antisemitism in London, as the crowd heard that the Jewish community will “not be intimidated”.
Former prime minister Boris Johnson was among the high-profile figures joining the demonstration, a day after crowds also gathered in the capital to demand a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.
Those who addressed the marchers included Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and immigration minister Robert Jenrick, as organisers claimed the pro-Palestinian rallies in recent weeks had made the capital a “no-go zone for Jews”.
Organisers called the rally the largest gathering against antisemitism London had seen since the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, when hundreds of thousands of people blocked a planned march by Sir Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists through an area populated by many Jewish families.
There were 18 arrests over the course of the day for a range of alleged offences, including suspicion of inciting racial hatred and suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation.
Among those detained was English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
‘Were going to have to get serious'
Countdown co-presenter Rachel Riley was among those to speak at yesterday’s rally.
She told the crown: “We’ve learned from history the sharp price to be paid when good people stay silent and I’m grateful to each and every one of you here today for refusing to be bystanders.
“We’re going to have to get serious about fighting this now if we want to turn things around.”
Watch her speech here:
Rachel Riley urges public to ‘get serious’ about antisemitism at London rally
Rachel Rilley has urged people to “get serious” about tackling antisemitism. Speaking at a rally in London’s Parliament Square she said: “We’ve learned from history the sharp price to be paid when good people stay silent and I’m grateful to each and every one of you here today for refusing to be bystanders. “We’re going to have to get serious about fighting this now if we want to turn things around. “We’re going to start having to have tough conversations. We’re going to have to stand up to the mob and we’re going to need strong stomachs. “But together I believe we can and we will.”
Shooting amid increased tensions in US
A man has been arrested over the shooting of three Palestinian students in Vermont, US, over the weekend.
Two of the victims are in stable condition in hospital, but the third was said to have suffered “much more serious injuries” and his condition remains unclear.
On Sunday, local police arrested a 48-year-old over the attack, which is being investigated as a possible hate crime
Suspect arrested in Vermont shooting of three Palestinian students
Jason J Eaton, 48, was arrested on Sunday afternoon close to the scene of the Burlington attack – which is being investigated as a possible hate crime
Rishi Sunak condemns antisemitism “in all its forms"
The British Prime Minister appeared to criticise Elon Musk’s remark on X after the tech billionaire sparked an outcry this month when responding to a user who accused Jews of hating white people.
In his reply to the user on X on Wednesday, Mr Musk said: “You have said the actual truth”.
Mr Sunak, speaking to Bloomberg TV, on the comment said: “I don’t tend to get in the business of scrutinising what every single person says who I’ve interacted with, of course I abhor antisemitism.
“And as you said, we’ve been unequivocal from the start of this situation that that is not acceptable in our society. And we’ve been very firm about that. I’ve personally been very firm about that. It’s very sad what is happening.
But pressed again, he said: “I condemn all antisemitism, right. It’s not about any one particular personality.
“I condemn antisemitism in all its forms. It doesn’t matter whether you’re Elon Musk or you’re someone on the street who’s shouting abuse at someone who happens to be walking past, that’s wrong in all its forms. Antisemitism in all its forms is completely and utterly wrong.”
Rishi Sunak slams Elon Musk’s ‘wrong’ remarks as antisemitism row deepens
Sunak said scenes of hostages being released by Hamas were ‘very heartening’
Quotes from yesterday’s march
Gideon Falter, chief executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism, said antisemitic crime “had surged in this country by over 1,000%”. He added: “Demonstrations marched through our cities, marched through our capital, where people glorify terrorism, where people incite racism against Jews.”
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said: “With regard to the poisonous spread of antisemitism, what should the response of the British people be? Number one, call it out when you see it. Number two, call it by what it really is – Jew hatred. Number three, be vigilant and report every incident. Number four, we must arrest every single perpetrator and bring every single one of them to justice.”
Rachel Riley, Countdown co-presenter, said: “We’re going to start having to have tough conversations. We’re going to have to stand up to the mob and we’re going to need strong stomachs. But together I believe we can and we will.”
More on Tommy Robinson’s arrest
English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson was arrested at yesterday’s march against anti-semitism in London - after Jewish leaders asked him not to come.
It was feared by many that Mr Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, would attempt to hijack the protest with a group of followers who had clashed with police at a march two weeks ago.
He was also warned not to attend by The Metropolitan Police.
However, an hour before the protest, he was seen in a coffee shop close to the starting point and asked to leave by police. More officers soon arrived and he was led away.
Footage soon emerged on X allegedly showing his arrest.
Fears over rise antisemitic in London
One of the point raised several times at yesterday’s march was the rise in antisemitic attacks in the UK during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Former EastEnders actress Tracy-Ann Oberman, who is from a Jewish background, told marchers about the “frightening and swift rise in antisemitism” experienced by people she knows.
Speaking at Parliament Square, she said: “We’re seeing a frightening and swift rise in antisemitism, Jewish attacks on our children not being able to go to school wearing their blazers with a Jewish insignia or skullcaps, our children and ourselves advised to take off any sign of being Jewish.”
In October, The Independent reported a 1300 per cent rise in antisemitic attacks in London. From 1 to 18 October, police recorded 218 antisemitic offences compared to 15 recorded in the same period last year.
Antisemitic attacks in London soar by staggering 1300% amid Israel-Hamas conflict
Shocking new figures reveal surge in hate crimes with 218 antisemitic offences in past two weeks
Coverage of the march from across the globe
An estimated 100,000 people took part in the demontration against antisemitism through central London yesterday.
So impactful was the event that it made the news across the world.
France 24 - Thousands march against anti-Semitism in London
ABC News - Former UK leader Boris Johnson joins a march against antisemitism in London
Times of Israel - ‘Zero tolerance for antisemitism’: Tens of thousands march against hate in London
The Charlotte Observer - Tens of thousands march against antisemitism in London including UK ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson
Police action during the march
The Metropolitan Police said it made 18 arrest during the protests in central London on Saturday.
One person was arrested was holding “a placard with swastikas on” and another for assaulting an emergency worker, the force said.
In total, 1,500 officers were deplayed to ensure the safety of protesters, and to keep the peace.
Taking a pause in our coverage
Good afternoon, we’re now taking a pause in our coverage.
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