Police are searching for 15 people after a convoy of cars driven by anti-Israel protesters chanting "Free Palestine" was filmed travelling toward the Israeli embassy in London at the weekend.
Up to 80 cars, some of which were draped in Palestinian flags, formed the convoy, which travelled from east to west London on Saturday evening.
The convoy, which is believed to have set off from a car park in Tower Hamlets, stopped twice on its route on major roads - on the A13 and at the Limehouse Link Tunnel - "dangerously" stopping the surrounding traffic, according to the Met Police.
APPEAL: Officers are appealing for the public’s help to identify the 15 people in this thread.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 19, 2023
We believe they took part in a pro-Palestinian convoy that dangerously stopped traffic on the A13 and the Limehouse Link Tunnel on Saturday night.
🧵⬇️https://t.co/GX0Sl8ORoW
Road policing units, public order teams and a helicopter were deployed to intercept the cars, which were held in Exhibition Road in south Kensington.
Police later established the group organising the convoy had plans to drive past the Israeli embassy off Kensington High Street.
In one video posted on X/Twitter, understood to have been filmed prior to the convoy starting, one anti-Israel protester said: “We are not going to sit around and watch oppression happen.
“We’re here and not going to wait and see these people killing babies, bombing hospitals, bombing schools, bombing places of worship. What sort of war is this?”
The Met said officers became aware of the convoy of vehicles driving into central London at around 10.15pm.
appeal2
Nine of the individuals police are looking for (Photo: Met Police)
A dispersal order was put in place and one vehicle was seized, with fixed penalty notices for various road traffic offences issued to 18 drivers, the force said.
A further nine vehicles were served with prohibition notices after defects were found making them unfit for use.
Police have now launched an appeal to find 15 people who were alleged to have taken part in the event.
Temporary Commander Karen Findlay said: "On some previous occasions, convoys of cars have passed through Jewish communities with occupants waving flags and shouting antisemitic abuse.
“They understandably caused significant concern, fear and upset.
Hundreds in East London, including local groups like @thpalestine, are rallying together in a unified voice, to show support for the people of #Gaza, and to remind the UK allies of Zionist occupation, that they reject the lies and propaganda justifying and enabling #genocide pic.twitter.com/0LOORM2YX4
— Muhammad Rabbani (@rabbanitweets) November 18, 2023
"As soon as the convoy was spotted, a plan was put in place quickly to ensure the convoy would not reach areas where its presence would inevitably cause alarm and intimidation.
"Our intervention on Saturday night was effective in stopping this convoy in its tracks, but now we need to identify those we suspect of being involved in offences earlier on their route.
"The public have been a great help in recent weeks when similar appeals have been made and I have no doubt they'll continue to do the same."
Anyone who can help identify the 15 people should call 101 quoting reference 4237915/23.
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