Labour has suspended a Blackburn councillor who is alleged to have shouted “murderers, murderers, murderers” at an Israeli peace protest and suggested that Jews created terror group Isis.
It is understood that Tasleem Fazal has been suspended by the party pending an investigation.
In a video, posted by the now deactivated account “CH Tassy Fazal”, a man’s voice shouts at a group of demonstrators holding Israeli flags and “peace for Israel and Gaza” signs “murderers, murderers, murderers… you’re all murderers”.
“Murderers, mate, that’s what you are… Cowards and bullies, that’s what you are… Shame on you f**kers…
“Look us up, Drive4Justice… We’re here for the people who’re getting killed; they’re the people getting killed by your guys… How long you been killing people?”
The protest appears to have been one which took place in Manchester in 2014 during the Gaza conflict.
Protesters in the video can be seen holding signs with slogans such as “Yes to peace, no to terror”, “End Hamas terrorism” and “Jewish people will not be put out of business by antisemites”.
Some also hold Israeli flags.
Later in the video, in a conversation with one protester who is wearing a yarmulke, the man making the video asks: “This has gone on for how long? How long's it been going on? How long's it been going on? How long's it been going on? How long you been killing people?”
The protester responds: “We’ve been killing people?”, to which the video-maker says, “absolutely, absolutely”.
The protester then asks him: “Isis. Is Isis Jewish?”, to which the man behind the camera replies: “Who’s created it? Who’s created it? Do your homework.”
Cllr Fazal did not response to multiple requests for comment by phone and email.
A source close to Cllr Fazal alleged that he was behind the "CH Tassy Fazal" Facebook account and claimed that the voice speaking in the video was Cllr Fazal.
In 2015, Cllr Fazal shared screenshots of a Facebook post by "CH Tassy Fazal" on Twitter, repeating the “SHAMEonTORIES” message and tagging, among others, Labour MP Kate Hollern.
Another Blackburn councillor also referred to “Cllr CH Tassy Fazal” in a 2018 Facebook post, and images posted on the Drive4Justice Instagram account show Cllr Fazal to be involved in the group.
A Labour spokesperson said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints of antisemitism extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures, and any appropriate disciplinary action is taken.”
