Four Jewish schools in north London closed their doors Friday amid fears of more anti-Semitic attacks.
Torah Vodaas and Ateres Beis primary schools in Edgware and Colindale and Menorah High for Girls in Neasden informed parents they would not reopen until Monday “in the interests of the safety of our precious children”.
A fourth school also cancelled lessons ahead of planned protests across the capital this weekend, Sky News reported.
Former Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal has called for the Muslim world to show solidarity with Palestinians by holding a day of mass street demos on Friday.
A further large protest is planned to start outside the BBC headquarters in central London at noon on Saturday.
Menorah’s headteacher Esther Pearlman wrote to parents: “Please be aware that this difficult decision has been reached because of the risk of violence on the streets. The police are concerned that as the girls are not in school they will venture outdoors and have asked us to advise you it is incumbent on you as parents your children remain indoors.”
In another letter to parents, Rabbi Feldman of Torah Vodaas said: “We live in unprecedented times. We appreciate the challenges and demands that this is putting on you and it is not a decision that has been taken lightly, but we need to do what is best for our precious children.”
Asked about schools in London closing, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “There’s obviously broader threats, not specific. This is really to do with the security of the community, and the Jewish community itself taking decisions.
“People are very concerned, and it’s not surprising when you hear the language coming out of some of these organisations and their supporters.”
The Community Security Trust said there were around 50 anti-Semitic hate incidents in London since Saturday, with victims suffering appalling physical and verbal abuse.
The Met says it is assessing video of two women ripping down posters in north London of Israeli children taken hostage by Hamas in Israel. The women were filmed by Neta Fibeesh pulling down the posters in Mornington Crescent.
One image showed a six-month-old baby who was kidnapped, alongside his parents and three-year-old brother from a kibbutz in southern Israel. Asked by a passer-by what they were doing, one of the women can be heard saying: “This is for Palestine!”
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “We are aware of the footage and it is currently being assessed.”
It came as the head of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners suggested officers will clamp down on Hamas-related clothing and anti-Jewish chanting, as part of greater security measures in the UK to control unrest over the conflict between Israel and Gaza.
Speaking about a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister at Downing Street yesterday morning, Donna Jones told LBC: “It was about the preparations for this weekend. There is a pro-Palestine protest planned in central London which the Met are expecting over 10,000 people to attend on Saturday, so it was the Met providing reassurance to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary... it was also the Home Secretary and Prime Minister reiterating their strength of feeling around the fact people using flags or wearing particular items of clothing or masks indicating support of Hamas is in fact an offence under terrorism law.”
A 22-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of supporting Hamas at a protest in Brighton on Sunday.
