To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
A man has been arrested after pro-Israel counter-protesters were spat at on the street during a demonstration over Gaza at a central London university.
Footage from the incident shows a police officer ushering the spitter away while telling the furious group: ‘Yes I saw it, go away.’
The incident took place at the campus for University College London (UCL) in the Bloomsbury area of the city yesterday.
Nearby, a separate group of people was involved in the latest pro-Palestine march in the capital.
For several months, the Met has faced the challenge of policing weekly protests and counter-protests over the extremely sensitive issue of the war in the Middle East.
The video from Saturday’s event shows officers speaking to a man who is standing near the pro-Israel group.
As he appears to be preparing to leave, the man turns around and spits on the ground, enraging a counter-protester who shouts: ‘Shame on you, you violent thug.’
When asked if he saw the spit, a police officer responds: ‘Yes, I saw it, go away.’
A police officer is seen ushering the man away from the counter-protest (Picture: Twitter/RADOCLUB)
The man filming asks why the spitter did not say sorry, and the same officer says: ‘He done it in front of you, yeah he’s not said sorry – he’s being rude.’
Responding to tweets containing the video, the Met posted on X to confirm a man was arrested over the incident shortly afterwards.
Spitting deliberately towards a person or people can constitute assault in UK law.
More Trending
Latest London news
Voting underway in London and across the UK for mayoral and council elections
What are Sadiq Khan’s policies if he’s re-elected as Mayor of London?
What is Susan Hall’s manifesto for the London mayoral election 2024?
To get the latest news from the capital visit Metro.co.uk’s London news hub.
It comes just two weeks after an inflammatory row between the force and Gideon Falter, the boss of the Campaign Against Antisemitism.
Mr Falter called for Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to resign, after one of his officers was filmed describing him as ‘openly Jewish’ when he appeared at a pro-Palestine march wearing a kippah.
However, figures including newly re-elected London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave Sir Mark their backing.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.