Two British police forces declined to ask pro-Palestine activists to delay protests set to be held today, the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre.
Despite fury over the planned marches across the country, Police Scotland and Greater Manchester Police did not ask them to be rescheduled.
At least 1,195 people were brutally killed in the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel three years ago.
Ahead of marches set to take place in London, Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harmam said the force could not ban the marches altogether.
“We cannot ban protests and can only ask the Home Secretary to do so if the risk of serious disorder is so high that it can’t be managed by conditions.
“That high bar is not met here,” he insisted.
Despite this, the Met had sought out student organisers to urge them to hold their event on an alternative date.
“We, the Met, have attempted to find and contact the student organisers to ask them to very carefully consider the impact their event will have, and to ask them to hold this event on a different day,” he said.
Two British police forces declined to ask pro-Palestine activists to delay protests set to be held today
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The Met had unsuccessfully asked protestors to delay demonstrations beyond the sensitive date
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GMP and Police Scotland did not make a similar attempt to have demonstrators reschedule their plans.
In Manchester, GB News understands the force deemed an intervention too significant a step, given the smaller scale of expected protests.
A gathering is planned for Albert Square, central Manchester, at 6pm this evening.
Police Scotland confirmed it was aware of planned protest activity in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen but said only that “appropriate resources” would be deployed.
At least 1,195 people were brutally killed in the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel three years ago
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GETTY“We are aware of planned protest activity due to take place in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen on Wednesday, 7 October, 2026,” the force told GB News.
“We will have appropriate resources in place to ensure the safety of those in attendance and mitigate disruption to the wider community.”
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are planned in Edinburgh and Glasgow today, marking the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks on Israel.
Campaigners are due to protest outside Barclays on Princes Street in Edinburgh and at an Armed Forces Careers Office in Glasgow, while a Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign meeting is scheduled for this evening in Edinburgh.
Greater Manchester Police and Police Scotland did not seek to have the protests change date
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PAJewish community organisations have condemned the decision to stage protests on this particular date, describing the timing as a deliberate provocation against a community in mourning.
A spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism told The Telegraph: “Because we have focused our scrutiny on the Met, other forces are apparently doing nothing at all, because policing these days only seems to happen when there’s a public outcry.
“These marches are nothing to do with Palestine and everything to do with Israel: the Jews cannot even be left to mourn their dead in peace.”