Antisemitism protesters have cancelled a demonstration outside a London university due to host a divisive United Nations official amid fears of “Amsterdam-style” violence.
The Metropolitan Police said officers are actively investigating threats posted online in relation to a planned protest at Queen Mary University of London on Tuesday morning and seeking to “identify those responsible”.
In a post on a Tower Hamlets residents’ forum, one user replied to an earlier one about the rally: “Can’t wait to give the welcome they deserve”, to which a second person comments: “Amsterdam style.”
UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who has said Hamas supporters have “a right to resist” and that Israel is like Nazi Germany, was set to appear as a guest speaker at the university in Mile End, east London.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism said the decision to cancel had been taken “following a security assessment” due to threats to engage in “Amsterdam-style violence”.
A spokesman added: “We are pursuing legal action against identifiable individuals who made threats.”
It added on X, formerly Twitter: “We discussed this with police and were satisfied that they would take appropriate measures to protect us.
“Our number one responsibility at any protest is the security of our supporters, volunteers, and staff.”
In a statement Scotland Yard said: “We’re aware of the decision by organisers to cancel their planned protest outside Queen Mary University today.
“We had been working closely with them and with the Community Security Trust, as we did ahead of yesterday’s protest on the same issue at the LSE, to ensure that anyone wishing to protest could do so safely with opposing groups kept apart.
“Appropriate plans were in place for today’s events.
“It is understandable that comments made online yesterday, which threatened violence and referenced events in Amsterdam, will have added to organisers’ concerns.
“Such threats are entirely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. An investigation was swiftly launched yesterday to identify those responsible.
“Officers will still be deployed in the vicinity of Queen Mary University today to ensure that events take place without incident, that offences can be dealt with and that anyone exercising their right to protest, whether part of an organised demonstration or independently, can do so without being subject to intimidation or abuse.”
Protests took place on Monday when Albanese, an Italian academic and lawyer specialising in human rights and the Middle East, took part in an event at the London School of Economics.
She recently published a report in which she alleged that Israel was not just committing war crimes in Gaza but a “genocide”, and suggested the UN should consider suspending Israel as a member state.
Further demos were planned outside Soas University of London where Albanese was speaking later.
An LSE spokesman said: “LSE is committed to providing an inclusive culture of equity, diversity and respect between individuals. Antisemitism and any other form of discrimination are completely unacceptable.
“Free speech and freedom of expression underpins everything we do at LSE. Students, staff and visitors are strongly encouraged to discuss and debate the most pressing issues around the world, but this must be in a mutually considerate manner.”
A Soas University of London added: “Freedom of expression and academic freedom are fundamental to our existence. The increasing tendency of some political groups to demand that speakers they disagree with should be prevented from speaking is an approach we reject. We would only act to limit speech that breaks the laws, or advocates hate or violence.”
