Bumbling Met Police close investigation into protester carrying sign glorifying dead Hamas leader because they can’t find her… despite TALKING to her during demonstration

The Metropolitan Police have dropped an investigation into a demonstrator carrying a sign glorifying terrorist and Hamas leader Yaha Sinwar – despite clear photographic evidence showing who it is.

The female protester was photographed by Mail Online being pulled aside by police after she was spotted carrying a piece of wood with the words Sinwar stick written on one side and Spirit of Resistance on the other.

She held it during a pro-Palestine demo on November 2 attended by thousands of people.

The officer claimed an allegation of inciting hatred had been made against her but despite being threatened with arrest, she declined to provide them with her name or address.

A Mail Online journalist photographed the exchange and when the story was published, The Met issued a statement saying it had launched an investigation.

At the time, a spokesperson said: ‘At about 1.20pm on November 2, officers policing the Palestine Solidarity Campaign march responded to an allegation of a suspected public order offence relating to a placard being carried by a participant close to Lambeth Bridge.

‘An assessment of that allegation based on the information available at the time, led to no offences being apparent and no arrest was made.

‘Further information has since come to light. This has been reviewed, and we have launched an investigation into a suspected terrorism offence.’

The female protester (pictured) was carrying a piece of wood with the words ‘Sinwar stick’ written on one side and ‘Spirit of Resistance’ on the other 

The female protester was photographed by Mail Online being pulled aside by police after she was spotted

The female protester was photographed by Mail Online being pulled aside by police after she was spotted

A demonstrator is seen holding a placard that says "Arrest Netanyahu Now" during the rally

A demonstrator is seen holding a placard that says ‘Arrest Netanyahu Now’ during the rally

Nearly three months on – despite a clear photo showing the woman – officers have dropped the investigation.

A new statement said: A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘The woman was spoken to by officers earlier that day but did not provide her details.

‘So far, despite extensive enquiries, we have not been able to confirm her identity which means the investigation has not been able to progress further.

‘For that reason it has been closed, although it could still be reopened if she was to be identified.’

That decision has been slammed by groups which campaign against anti-semitism and terror experts.

Colonel Richard Kemp, a terrorism expert and the British Army’s former commander in Afghanistan, said: ‘This is a shocking decision. 

‘What sort of message does this set out? I’d question exactly what steps were taken to find her.

‘For them to launch an investigation into a potential terror offence would suggest they did take it very seriously. What changed?’

The decision to close the investigation has been slammed by groups which campaign against anti-semitism and terror experts

The decision to close the investigation has been slammed by groups which campaign against anti-semitism and terror experts

A demonstrator is seen holding a placard that says 'UK Jews say ceasefire now, stop the genocide' during the rally

A demonstrator is seen holding a placard that says ‘UK Jews say ceasefire now, stop the genocide’ during the rally

Jeremy Corbyn MP is seen giving an interview during the demonstration

Jeremy Corbyn MP is seen giving an interview during the demonstration

Pro-Palestine marches have attracted tens of thousands of supporters in London since October 2023, when the more recent conflict between Israel and Hamas started.

The Met have faced criticism from Jewish community leaders for the way they have been handled.

Dozens of arrests have been made, some for suspect terrorism offences, including support of Hamas, a banned terrorist organisation in Britain.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: ‘This is yet another illustration of the Met’s utterly confused approach to policing these marches. Officers don’t seem to know whether Met policy is to arrest or not arrest, or to arrest now or later. The result is that potential criminals get off scot-free.

‘After being forced to actually investigate what appears to be a blatant glorification of a terror leader, the police should be redoubling its efforts to locate this person, not quietly giving up. Laws and regulations are meaningless if there’s no enforcement.

‘Incidents like this are why only 16 per cent of British Jews believe that the police treat anti-semitic hate crime like other forms of hate crime, according to our representative polling. Our authorities must do a lot better.’

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