The Metropolitan Police is reviewing whether upcoming pro-Palestine marches in London can go ahead in the wake of the Golders Green terror attack.
The force said police will be assessing events across the country after the UK terrorism threat level was raised to “severe” following the horror double stabbing in north London this week.
It comes as Met Chief Sir Mark Rowley clashed with Zack Polanski, accusing the Green Party leader of “intervening in operational policing” over his “misinformed” criticism of the arrest made following the attack on Wednesday morning.
Mr Polanski was criticised for sharing a post on social media suggesting that the police used excessive force when detaining the suspect.
The Stop the War Coalition is planning a major demonstration in London on May 16 to mark Nakba Day, commemorating the 1948 displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel.
The group has described attempts to link recent attacks with marches as “false”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer – who is facing calls to ban pro-Palestine marches – backed the prosecution of protesters chanting “globalise the intifada” during the gatherings.
Asked about upcoming marches, head of Counter Terrorism Policing Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “As part of our review into the change in the threat level, policing will be reviewing all events across the country.”
In a rare intervention on Thursday, Met Commissioner Sir Mark criticised Mr Polanski for sharing a post on social media accusing officers of “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head” when he was already incapacitated from being tasered.
Sir Mark Rowley said he was “disappointed”, adding that the post was “inaccurate and misinformed”.
“Your decision to criticise these officers, using your public profile and reach will have a chilling effect,” he added.
A Green Party spokesperson said Mr Polanski “knows it was a very difficult situation for the authorities”.
Police tasered and arrested a 45-year-old man after the double stabbing which saw two Jewish men – Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76, named locally as Moshe Shine – taken to hospital.
Mr Rand told the BBC it was a “miracle” he survived, adding: “I feel like God’s given me back my life.”
He has since been discharged from hospital and is now recovering at home after receiving stitches, Rabbi Levi Schapiro, from the Jewish Community Council and who has visited both victims, said on social media.
Mr Shine remains in hospital and in a stable condition.
Essa Suleiman, 45, a British national born in Somalia, has been charged with attempted murder.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre raised the threat level to “severe” on Thursday, meaning a terror attack is “highly likely”.
The decision is not solely a result of the Golders Green attack, the Home Office said, adding that the threat level in the UK has been “rising for some time”.
