The radical Islamist group that sparked terror across the Jewish community after calling for “jihad” and demanding “Muslim armies” liberate Palestine, are set to hold their first march in London since their inflammatory demonstration last month.
According to the Metropolitan Police as many as 500 Hizb ut-Tahrir demonstrators will engage in a “static protest at the Egyptian embassy”, at the same time as a march organised by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign of 100,000 people in central London tomorrow.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan conceded that the Islamist organisation’s previous demonstration caused serious alarm acorss the country.
He told reporters: “At the time there was considerable debate about the use of the word jihad. Nobody can fail to have seen the public reaction and the strength of feeling in the Jewish community, in particular. It is a word that clearly causes upset and concern but it’s always contextual.
“If we think people are chanting this to incite violence, terrorism or antisemitism we will act decisively and quickly.”
Last month prominent Hizb ut-Tahrir member Taji Mustafa addressed a crowd, also outside the Egyptian embassy, saying: “What is the solution to liberate people from the concentration camp called Palestine?”
The group of protestors responded, saying: “Jihad! Jihad! Jihad!”
In response to the video, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “The word jihad has a number of meanings but we know the public will most commonly associate it with terrorism.
“We have specialist counter terrorism officers here in the operations room who have particular knowledge in this area. They have assessed this video, filmed at the Hizb ut-Tahrir protest in central London today, and have not identified any offences arising from the specific clip.
“However, recognising the way language like this will be interpreted by the public and the divisive impact it will have, officers have identified the man involved and will be speaking to him shorty to discourage any repeat of similar chanting.”
In a separate video, posted on social media, the Mr Mustafa said: “The only solution is jihad by the armies of the Muslim countries.”
Pointing to the crowd, he added: “Not by you and me. Who are we? What training do I have?
“There are people with arms in Egypt, in Pakistan, in Saudi Arabia, in Jordan – across the Muslim world.
“And right now they are boiling like we are boiling.”
