Three arrested in London protests linked to Israel attack

THE Metropolitan Police arrested three people in Central London on Monday (9) involved in demonstrations following the attack in Israel and the escalation of conflict along the border with Gaza.

Three arrests have been made for assault on an emergency worker, racially-motivated criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon, the force said.

Officers have gathered evidence and active enquiries are under way to identity, locate and arrest those suspected of being involved in criminal damage of a building during the protests in Kensington High Street, Scotland Yard said.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak expressed his solidarity with the Jewish community in Britain and said he would work to make sure they felt safe after the devastating attacks in Israel over the weekend.

A Jewish charity in Britain said it had seen an increase in antisemitic attacks but police forces stepped up patrols around the country.

Israel has been rocked by the attacks that started on Saturday (7) when fighters from the Islamist group Hamas killed hundreds of Israelis and abducted dozens, the deadliest such incursion in decades, prompting Israel to retaliate by pounding the Palestinian enclave of Gaza.

In Britain, the Jewish advisory body, the Community Security Trust (CST), said in a post on X that it had seen incidents of what it called "racist anti-Semitism against Jewish people" since Saturday.

During a service at a London synagogue for the victims of the Hamas attacks, Sunak said: "we've already seen vile words on our streets and attempts to stir up community tensions, I say not here, not in Britain, not in our country, not in this century."

"My first duty is to protect you, we will not tolerate this hate, we will not tolerate this anti-Semitism, and I promise you I will stop at nothing to keep you safe," Sunak added.

(With inputs from Reutes)