Police have launched an appeal to track down more than 60 people suspected of committing hate crimes and other offences since the October 7 attack on Israel.
The Met Police have confirmed that there are currently more than 977 ongoing investigations across the force into a range of offences linked to protests and incidents in communities in response to the attack last month.
In total, 434 people have been arrested for a range of offences including hate crimes and public order offences over the past seven weeks. Of these arrests, 288 were made in connection with offences at protests, 133 were following offences in communities, and 13 were related to counter terrorism offences.
A total of 85 people have been charged.
It comes after a new appeal to identify two men was launched following incident in Stanhope Gate, close to Park Lane in Westminster, London on Saturday afternoon at around 1pm.
According to police, a journalist and her colleagues were harassed by two men, one in his 30s, and one in his 50s.
The man in his 30s had a long black beard and was wearing a blue Adidas jacket, black cargo trousers with a white scarf with red and green patterns and a black bandana
The second suspect was a balding man with greying brown hair who was wearing blue jeans, a black leather jacket, a black jumper and was carrying a megaphone.
The Met Police have confirmed that there are currently more than 977 ongoing investigations across the force into a range of offences
In total, 434 people have been arrested for a range of offences including hate crimes and public order offences over the past seven weeks
The man in his 30s had a long black beard and was wearing a blue Adidas jacket, black cargo trousers with a white scarf with red and green patterns and a black bandana.
The second suspect was a balding man with greying brown hair who was wearing blue jeans, a black leather jacket, a black jumper and was carrying a megaphone.
On Saturday, a large group gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London for the latest rally, this time organised by the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism.
The organisers claimed it was the largest demonstration against anti-Semitism since 1936, with 104,000 estimated to have attended.
English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson also attended the march, despite being told by organisers to stay away. He was seen being escorted away from the march by police after arguing with officers for around 10 minutes outside Soho coffee shop opposite the Royal Courts of Justice.
Scotland Yard arrested Mr Robinson after he refused to leave the area when asked to by police officers. He claimed to be there ‘as a journalist’ but his arrest was not due to this, the Met Police said.
It comes as a large group gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London on the weekend for a rally organised by the charity Campaign Against Antisemitism
The organisers said it was the largest demonstration against anti-Semitism since 1936, with 104,000 estimated to be there
Mr Robinson claimed to be there ‘as a journalist’ and alleged police were trying to stop him ‘from reporting’. The Met Police said this did not play a factor
The group of a few thousand were seen waving Israeli and Union flags and holding placards reading ‘Never Again Is Now’ and ‘Zero Tolerance for Antisemites’, while other posters read ‘Rape is not resistance’ and ‘Hamas made me Jewish’.
The march came after 18 demonstrators were arrested in the capital during a separate rally calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza – with anti-Semitic banners and placards on display throughout the march.
Speaking of the police’s latest approach to track down suspects, Chief Superintendent Paul Trevers said: ‘We know the effect of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to have a significant impact on communities in London and we will do all we can to keep people safe.
‘Our officers continue to meet regularly with members of the Jewish and Muslim communities across capital to provide reassurance and to respond to any concerns they may have.
‘We have also been clear that offences, such as hate crime and support for proscribed organisations, will not be tolerated and we continue to have a dedicated policing operation to investigate these crimes and identify offenders.’
Anyone who recognises any of the people on the force’s live appeals webpage is asked to call 0208 246 9386. Alternatively, they can call 101 quoting Operation Brocks and the relevant image identification number.
Information can also be shared anonymously with independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via their website.
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