Pro-Palestinian demonstrations described as 'not in keeping with British values' after Manchester terror incident, British interior minister states
News Agency
The Interior Minister expressed dismay that pro-Palestinian demonstrations went ahead on Thursday following the terror attack that claimed two lives outside a Jewish place of worship in the city of Manchester.
The home secretary also urged protesters to "reconsider" from plans to hold marches in the next few days.
"I believe that continuing in this manner does feel un-British, it seems inappropriate," the minister commented concerning protests arranged for this week.
Protesters in central London demonstrating against the Israel's naval forces stopping a flotilla carrying aid to the Gaza Strip confronted with law enforcement near the Prime Minister's residence on Thursday evening.
Large crowds displaying flags of Palestine and placards could be spotted on the government district throughout the night.
London's police force stated that fourty individuals had been taken into custody. Six of those apprehended were charged with attacks against law enforcement personnel.
"It's crucial to make a distinction between events unfolding in the Middle East and what is happening at in our country," the home secretary remarked on a morning news program on Friday.
"My message would be to individuals who are intending to participate in a demonstration is to just take a step back for a moment, and consider if you had lost a family member to a terrorist incident in this nation," she continued.
There were "robust" measures to defend the right to protest, she noted, but they could be set aside on the advice of the law enforcement.
"I can follow guidance from the law enforcement, if they were to tell me there was an inability to respond and to oversee the demonstrations, then there are authorities that are at my disposal," she elaborated.
Community representatives voice concerns
The UK's senior rabbinical leader commented that many members of the Jewish population questioned why protests in support of Palestinian advocacy groups had been authorized to occur.
The organization was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in July. At multiple protests since then, hundreds have been detained for showing support for the organization, which has secured approval to challenge the restriction.
"A portion of them include outright anti-Jewish sentiment, outright support for Hamas. Not everyone involved, however there is so much of these elements, which certainly is risky to many within our society," the religious leader remarked.
"You cannot separate the words on our public spaces, the actions of people in this way, and what ultimately follows, which was Thursday's terrorist attack."
He also appealed to the administration "repeatedly", to "get a grip on these protests, they are risky."