EXCLUSIVE: Police investigate threats to communal trio outside JLM conference event

Merseyside Police have launched a probe after the senior vice-president of the Board of Deputies and two representatives of the Strictly Orthodox community were subjected to antisemitic threats and abuse outside the venue hosting the Jewish Labour Movement’s rally at the Labour conference.

The incident, which occurred outside the Liverpool Pub — the city centre venue hosting JLM’s event on Monday evening — was only diffused after the leader of the GMB trade union arrived to attend the reception and confronted the man responsible for the abuse.

Jewish News has learned that Merseyside Police have now taken witness statements following the incident, responding promptly to a report and quickly dispatching officers to the venue.

It is understood that Adrian Cohen, who was wearing a kippah, and Charedi community leaders Motty Pinter and Mark Grosskopf were approached in a threatening manner by a middle-aged, white-haired man, who shouted: “You should be ashamed of yourselves—you are killing children in Gaza.”

The man, who had earlier been drinking in the pub, continued to taunt the trio with references to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.

Getting nearer and nearer to the three men, he kept saying, “Look what’s going on in Gaza, look what’s going on…. You support it. Killing children in Gaza.”

When the three challenged his antisemitic abuse—pointing out that being Jewish did not make them accountable for the actions of Israel in Gaza—the man reportedly became increasingly agitated, according to sources who witnessed the incident.

Spotting the confrontation as he arrived at the event, Gary Smith, general secretary of the GMB, intervened, stopping the man from continuing his threatening behaviour and ensuring the three Jewish men were able to enter the venue safely.

There was no indication that the man responsible for the taunts had been attending the Labour Party conference.

The pub that hosted the JLM event was outside the conference secure zone in Liverpool.

Cohen, who is also lay chair of the Labour Friends of Israel group and a member of the GMB union, later told Jewish News: “It was appalling that we should be targeted on the basis of our outwardly Jewish appearance. It’s a shocking example of the rise in antisemitism.”

GMB leader Smith told Jewish News: “I was disgusted to see Jewish people, who were only going about their business, subjected to this harassment. There is no place for antisemitism on our streets or in our society.”

Grosskopf, a councillor in Haringey and chair of the Jewish Tottenham Association, added: “Just because I’m visibly Jewish doesn’t mean people know my views on Israel or anything else. This attack shows that antisemitism in this country remains high — not because of what’s happening in the Middle East, but because people are making assumptions about what I believe based solely on how I look.

“This attack shows how antisemitism leads people to make dangerous assumptions about individuals based solely on their identity. Hate like this has no place in our society.”

Pinter, a Stamford Hill-based activist with Chinuch UK and tireless community campaigner,  told Jewish News he had come to get used to facing similar abuse as a result of the rise in antisemitism across society since October 7.

JLM’s event at the conference attracted a large turnout of supporters and activists who had been attending the conference.

Speakers at the event included British-Israeli hostage family campaigner Sharone Lifshitz, along with Finchley and Golders Green MP and minister, Sarah Sackman.

Despite wider concerns within the community over the trade union movement’s actions, the GMB union has a reputation for standing against antisemitism, and encouraging Jewish membership.

Jewish News has contacted Merseyside Police for comment.

A JLM spokesperson said:”British Jews aren’t responsible for the actions of the Israeli government. To suggest otherwise is antisemitism. End of.”