Greens probe candidate after JN exposes conspiratorial posts about Zionists and Holocaust
EXCLUSIVE: Brian Capaloff is standing for Zack Polanski's party in the Hale End and Highams Park South ward of Waltham Forest
A Green Party candidate in the upcoming local elections in London is under scrutiny after Jewish News was alerted to claims that he appeared to use pseudonymous social media accounts to post incendiary comments about Zionists and the Holocaust.
Brian Capaloff, who is standing for the Green Party in the Hale End and Highams Park South ward of Waltham Forest, describes himself as having “a background in local government services, specifically in homelessness,” and says he is focused on “community-focused local politics.”
Jewish News was alerted to allegations he appeared to use an X account, @cOcteau8, operated under the name Russ, that recently posted inflammatory comments about Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s independent adviser on terror, after the recent Golders Green terror attacks.
One post read on April 30th read: “Not that yesterday’s stabbing at Golders Green was a false flag event, but authoritarian and extremist Zionists such as Jonathan Hall ‘KC’ must have been orgasmic at the possibilities. Are these their burning of the Reichstag moments?”
Earlier, the same account shared a post by Caitlin Johnson alleging that recent attacks on Jewish synagogues and other buildings were part of a coordinated effort by Zionists to stage fake antisemitic attacks.
The post shared by @cOcteau8 read:”Zionists staging fake ‘antisemitic attacks’ so often that it is unreasonable to treat each instance as an isolated individual event. This is a coordinated tactic…”
While the @cOcteau8 account did not initially appear linked to Capaloff, Jewish News has seen evidence confirming that Capaloff previously identified himself as the account’s owner in April 2021.
In one post dated April 10, 2021, he wrote: “Trumpet blowing time! A Morning Star review of my memoirs… ‘Brian Capaloff’s entertaining and poignant collection of reminiscences'”
Replies to @cOcteau8 posts also frequently referenced Capaloff by name.
Additionally, an Instagram account featuring Capaloff’s profile photo was found under the name Cocteau8, containing multiple examples of extreme anti-Zionist content.
One post showed anti-Israel protesters in Cork, Ireland, including a banner stating: “Close Down Auschwitz Genocide In Gaza is The New Holocaust.”
A comment written by Cocteau8 account stated approvingly: “Now in Cork. And every week! What a wonderful turnout and in the rain.”
After Jewish News contacted the Green Party regarding Capaloff’s X account, a party spokesperson said: “Where there are examples brought to our attention that do not fit in with the views of the Green Party, we are looking into them.”
Capaloff blocked Jewish News after being approached for comment on his social media activity.
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