London police warn over October 7 pro-Palestinian march near major universities

Monday 05 - 20:20

The Metropolitan Police has called on organizers of a planned pro-Palestinian demonstration in London to postpone the event, warning that its timing and route could heighten tensions for Jewish students and university staff marking the third anniversary of the Hamas attack in Israel.

The march is scheduled to begin at midday at King’s College London before heading toward University College London. It is being organized by the University of London Coalition, an alliance of pro-Palestinian student groups operating across several London universities.

The police appeal centers on the choice of October 7 and the route connecting two major academic institutions. At a briefing at Scotland Yard, police official James Harman said the date carried particular significance for Jewish communities and urged organizers and participants to consider the potential impact of the demonstration on people observing the anniversary.

Police raise concerns over university tensions

According to the Metropolitan Police, officers have attempted to establish contact with the organizers but have faced difficulties identifying an individual willing to take formal responsibility for the event.

The coalition's promotional material includes calls for a Palestine "from the river to the sea" and describes the conflict in Gaza as part of what it characterizes as decades of genocide. One poster also features a red triangle, a symbol that has been associated in recent years with Hamas-related video material.

The police have contacted four universities attended by students connected to the coalition. Their leaderships were asked to take steps to ensure that Jewish students and employees can continue their academic and professional activities without feeling threatened, excluded or targeted.

The force stressed that its position does not amount to opposition to political protest. It said peaceful demonstrations, freedom of expression and open debate remain fundamental principles. At the same time, it pointed to figures from the Community Security Trust, a British organization monitoring antisemitism, indicating that antisemitic incidents at universities have remained substantially above levels recorded before October 2023.

Demonstration cannot simply be banned because of its date

The Metropolitan Police said it does not have the authority to cancel a demonstration solely because of its political message or the date selected by organizers.

However, officers can impose restrictions on factors such as the route, timing and manner in which a protest takes place when they believe there is a significant risk of serious disorder, substantial disruption or intimidation.

That distinction is likely to remain central as police and organizers weigh competing rights: the ability to demonstrate in support of Palestinians and the obligation to ensure that members of the Jewish community can attend university without feeling threatened during a particularly sensitive commemoration.

If the march proceeds as planned, the Metropolitan Police said it would consider measures designed to reduce disruption and prevent intimidation.

Major policing operation expected in London

The planned university march comes amid a wider period of heightened protest activity in the British capital. Hundreds of officers are expected to be deployed across London during the week to manage several demonstrations.

Scotland Yard has also announced a "zero-tolerance" approach to hate-motivated offences, incitement to violence and expressions of support for terrorist organizations.

Another pro-Palestinian demonstration is scheduled for October 10 in central London. Police estimate that as many as 10,000 people could attend.

The scale of the wider protest movement has also placed a substantial financial burden on the Metropolitan Police. According to figures released by the force, 35 major demonstrations organized by Palestine Coalition groups since October 2023 have generated approximately £26.6 million in direct policing costs.

When the expense of redeploying officers from other duties is included, the overall cost is estimated at around £90 million.

A delicate balance between protest rights and community security

The dispute over the October 7 march highlights the increasingly difficult task facing London authorities as political demonstrations intersect with communal sensitivities on university campuses.

For the Metropolitan Police, the challenge is to preserve the right to peaceful political expression while preventing intimidation, hate-related offences and serious disruption. For universities, the immediate concern is ensuring that students and staff from different communities can continue to study and work in an environment where political disagreement does not translate into fear or exclusion.

The final decision by organizers on whether to alter the date or proceed with the march is therefore likely to have significance beyond the demonstration itself, as London continues to manage the security and social tensions surrounding protests linked to the Gaza war.