Police across Britain are on high alert over fears of a terror attack after an ex-Hamas boss called on sympathisers to engage in a “day of jihad”.
It comes after Israel issued an order for Palestinians to evacuate from Gaza within 24 hours.
Khaled Meshaal, a former leader of the extremist group who now acts as a messenger to Palestinians living abroad, called on “all scholars who teach jihad” to join “a moment for the application”.
Following Meshaal’s remarks – believed to be a call to arms – an extra 1,000 police officers are on duty in London.
The UK’s domestic terror alert level remains unchanged, with “substantial” suggesting an attack is thought to be likely.
A “very significant policing operation” is in place for the weekend ahead of a pro-Palestine march in London today, according to Met police deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor.
“For the moment we are doing largely reassurance and protective security patrols but it would, of course, be absolutely remiss of us not to be working in the background from the counter terrorism policing perspective to understand should there be any increased threats,” he told the Mirror.
But concerns remain high in areas with large Jewish populations following a rise in reports of antisemitic abuse.
From September 30 to October 13, the Met has recorded 105 antisemitic incidents and 75 antisemitic offences.
By the end of today, the force plans to have visited every synagogue in the city and has met 2,000 parents as well as pupils and schools’ leaders over concerns about the safety of young people.
It comes after supporters of both Israel and Palestine clashed in London after police had to separate them in High Street Kensington Underground station – close to Israel’s British embassy.
Earlier this week posters for missing Israeli children were torn down all over London by Palestinian supporters in protest over the war.
Footage on social media shows two women ripping down the flyers in Camden, but GB News understands posters have also been torn down in other parts of the capital.
The posters show the faces of men, women and children believed to have been abducted by Hamas since their attack last weekend.
The Israeli military said more than 1,300 people, including 222 soldiers, have been killed, while Gaza says another 1,800 people are dead within the territory.
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