Pro-Palestinian protesters unleash fusillade of fireworks as they chant for ‘intifada’ against Israel hours before deadly synagogue attack

By FREYA BARNES, NEWS REPORTER and ED HOLT

Published: | Updated:

Pro-Palestine protesters unleashed a fusillade of fireworks in central London last night as they chanted ‘intifada’ against Israel just hours before the deadly synagogue attack. 

Between 50 and 100 demonstrators descended on Haymarket, Westminster, just before 1am on October 2 for the ‘spontaneous’ protest that the police were not notified of.

The crowd then moved to Whitehall and gathered outside Downing Street for around 20 minutes before leaving.

Footage posted on social media from the late night event shows protesters setting off hundreds of fireworks as the crowd chanted to beat of drums. 

The protesters can reportedly be heard chanting ‘there is only one solution, intifada, revolution’. Intifada is an arabic word for rebellion and is often used to refer to periods of violent Palestinian uprisings between the 1980s and 2000s. 

They were holding Palestine flags and banners, including one accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of being a ‘war criminal’.

The protest has been widely condemned online in the light of today’s terrorist attack at a synagogue in Manchester.

On X, formerly Twitter, former Tory minister Lord Zac Goldsmith said: ‘We ALL know what these people want – eradication of the Jewish homeland and its people. But that’s just the start. 

Footage posted on social media from the late night event shows protesters setting off hundreds of fireworks as the crowd chanted to beat of drums 

‘Their hatred of Jews is (almost) matched by their hatred towards the West as a whole. And yet our govt weakly appeases them, much of the media regurgitates their lies and propaganda, and foolish leftists cheer them. 

‘”Globalise the Intifada” – what on earth do they think that means? We had a glimpse today in Manchester. Jews know there will be many more. Non Jews need to wake up as well.’

The Met Police said no arrests were made, but they are reviewing the footage of fireworks being set off.

A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘At 00:47hrs on Thursday, October 2 we were made aware of a spontaneous protest involving around 50 to 100 people in Haymarket, Westminster which we had not been notified of in advance.

‘The protest then moved to Whitehall and congregated outside Downing Street for around 20 minutes before dispersing.

‘Officers responded and remained with the group until the protest concluded. There were no arrests.

‘We’re aware of videos showing fireworks being set off in the street as part of the protest and are reviewing them.’

It comes just days before what is expected to be the biggest pro-Palestine protest ever in London this weekend.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, former Tory minister Lord Zac Goldsmith condemned the protest

They were holding Palestine flags and banners, including one accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of being a ‘war criminal’

Over 1,500 people so far have pledged to join the demonstration in support of proscribed group Palestine Action.

The event, set for Trafalgar Square on Saturday, aims to be ‘the biggest ever mass action yet defying the ban on Palestine Action’, organisers Defend Our Juries say.

Hundreds of people are set to risk arrest for showing support for Palestine Action, which has been banned by the government as a terrorist organisation.

Saturday’s demonstration is part of a week of mass protests that has seen 66 people arrested outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool for supporting the proscribed group.

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