Police are urgently searching for a man who threatened to behead 'dirty Jews' in a shocking antisemitic video that has gone viral. The footage, which emerged from Whitechapel Road in Tower Hamlets, east London, shows a man making explicit threats against Jewish people while shouting pro-Palestinian slogans.
Details of the Incident
In the clip, the man can be heard saying 'f*** Israel' and 'big up Palestine' before declaring that Jews 'are gonna get beheaded one-by-one'. He added: 'Palestine will be free. But Israel, if I catch that government, on my mother's life, I will f*** you out.' Another individual briefly appears on camera and appears to gesture for him to stop, but the man continues chanting 'Free, free Palestine. From the river to the sea (Palestine will be free).' This chant, frequently used at pro-Palestine demonstrations, has been condemned by Jewish groups as antisemitic, as it is seen as calling for the destruction of Israel.
Police Response
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers attended the scene in Whitechapel Road after becoming aware of the video on the afternoon of May 16. A force spokesman stated: 'We are carrying out urgent inquiries to identify the man. We understand that incidents like this cause significant concern and we take all reports incredibly seriously. Hate crime of any kind has no place in our communities.'
Community Reaction
The footage was highlighted by the Jewish community group Shomrim (London North & East), which described the man's words as 'horrific'. In a statement, the organisation said it was 'aware of the fact that the Orthodox Jewish community is exceptionally concerned about these threats'. Shomrim added that it is 'working closely' with the Metropolitan Police and hopes this collaboration will reassure London's sizable Jewish Orthodox community.
Rising Antisemitism in the UK
British Jews have faced numerous attacks since the war in Gaza erupted between Hamas and Israel in October 2023. The conflict has since spread across the Middle East, involving countries such as Lebanon, Iran, and the USA. Controversy over the actions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, particularly against Palestinians, has sparked global protests and accusations of genocide—allegations that Israel strenuously denies, insisting it is battling the proscribed terror group Hamas.
Against this backdrop, antisemitic incidents in the UK have risen by four per cent over the past year, according to the charity Community Security Trust (CST). This has contributed to the 'normalisation' of antisemitism in the country, according to the UK and Commonwealth's Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis. His comments followed a recent incident in which a man was charged with attempting to murder two Jewish men in Golders Green, north-west London.
Additional Security Measures
In response to the growing threat, the Metropolitan Police has announced that London's Jewish communities will be further protected by a dedicated team of 100 additional officers. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley had previously stated that 300 extra officers were needed across the capital as he warned of a growing 'pandemic' of antisemitism in the UK. The UK's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre recently raised the national threat level to 'severe', meaning an attack is highly likely in the next six months.
Police continue to appeal for information to identify the man in the video. Anyone with details is urged to contact the Metropolitan Police or Crimestoppers anonymously.
