Gail’s bakery vandalised after ‘Free Gaza’ protest outside new north London branch
Police investigate criminal damage after protesters target Gail’s amid false claims linking the bakery chain to Israel
A newly opened Gail’s Bakery in north London was vandalised overnight after a protest accusing the chain of links to Israel, allegations the company has repeatedly denied.
The Archway branch, on Junction Road near Archway Tube station, was daubed with red paint and political slogans, including “Free Gaza”, shortly after opening, following a demonstration outside the premises.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called to reports of criminal damage at around 11.39pm on Wednesday. In a statement, a spokesperson said: “Officers arrived on the scene within six minutes and found that the outside of the building had been vandalised with paint. The suspects fled the scene before police arrived.”
Police said officers conducted a search of the area and worked with the council to review available CCTV, adding: “They are continuing to review other footage to identify any lines of enquiry that might help to identify the suspects.”
Footage from the protest showed a confrontation between demonstrators and a Jewish bystander, who questioned why a British business was being targeted with anti-Israel slogans. In a video shared online, she said: “It is a UK-based business, why are you protesting a UK-based business saying ‘Boycott Israel’? Is it because they’ve got Jewish directors?”
A female protester responded: “The profits are going to private equity owners and investors who have invested £140m in companies linked to (Israeli) war tech.”
The protester later said she was also there to support local businesses, adding: “There are so many locally-owned cafes here, everywhere Gail’s has opened in London, the locally-owned cafes have suffered. We don’t need another cafe.”
When challenged over placards calling to “Boycott Israel”, the woman said: “That’s not my sign,” to which the bystander replied: “But you are standing alongside supporting it.”
The bystander later said she felt “intimidated” by the protest. When the protester said she was “half-Jewish”, the bystander responded that the demonstration was still “intimidating and harassing Jewish customers”, according to the footage.
Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised the vandalism, warning it reflected intimidation rather than peaceful protest.
A spokesperson said: “In case anyone required further proof that this is not a peaceful movement, here it is. This is yet more blatant thuggery from pro-Palestinian extremists trying to pass off intimidation and vandalism, driven by a blind hatred for the world’s only Jewish state, as progressive activism. Smashing up a branch of Gail’s does nothing to advance peace in the Middle East; it simply spreads hate on British streets. The Metropolitan Police must ensure that those responsible face the full consequences of their actions.”
The Community Security Trust (CST) spokesperson said: “Targeting a bakery for graffiti and protests simply because one of its founders was Israeli is racist, and any claims that Gail’s is linked to the Israeli state are completely spurious. Rather than legitimate political activism, this is a racist campaign that spreads hate on British streets and creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the incident reflected a broader and deeply concerning pattern. A spokesperson said: “Targeting a business on the basis of alleged or perceived Israeli and or Jewish connections reflects a very worrying trend. Across the UK, companies and individuals are increasingly singled out by reference to their association real or otherwise to Israel, with an inevitable disproportionate impact on the Jewish community. That is not legitimate protest; it is creating an atmosphere of intimidation for Jewish businesses, staff and customers. And is part of a wider trend to try and drive Jews out of wider civil society.
“We are raising instances of this with the government and relevant authorities for whom this is a test of their resolve to confront antisemitism and extremism and reinforce social cohesion.”
Gail’s has previously rejected claims that it funds Israel or has ties to the Israeli government. The company was founded in the 1990s and is now a UK-based bakery chain operating more than 170 locations nationwide. It has said it pays UK taxes and operates independently of any foreign state.
In a statement following the vandalism, a spokesperson for Gail’s said: “Last night, we unfortunately experienced vandalism at our new Archway bakery. Our bakeries are places for the community, and no one – whether that’s our bakery teams or customers – should feel targeted or unsafe. We are a British business with no specific connections to any country or government outside the UK. Our focus right now is on working with the authorities and making sure our people feel safe and supported.”
Anyone with information has been asked to contact police quoting CAD 7771/18FEB, or Crimestoppers anonymously.
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