Met insist hostage posters removed from Edgware chemist to protect ‘community relations’

The Metropolitan Police have insisted they removed posters highlighting the hostages kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from the shutters of a shop in Edgware  because of their “responsibility to take reasonable steps to stop issues escalating and to avoid any further increase in community tension”.

Two police officers were filmed in a widely shared online video stripping the posters from the outside of Cullimore Chemist in Edgware, last weekend.

The actions of the police sparked widespread anger in the community, with many pointing the fact that images on X, formerly Twitter, show the chemist’s CEO, Haasan Khan, retweeting posts by an apparent colleague branding Israel and the IDF as “filthy animals” and calling for Israel’s enemies Iran and Hezbollah to get involved in the conflict. 

The account was later  deleted, and Khan later issued a statement apologising on behalf of the company.

Police said they received at least two calls about the posters put up outside the chemist on Saturday night, with concerns raised that they had been put up in “retaliation for comments about the conflict between Israel and Hamas that were made on social media by a person associated with the business.”

Police said print-outs of these comments “may also” have been stuck on the shop alongside the hostage posters.

They added:” Both people who reported the posters to us were concerned that it would escalate an already tense situation. Officers went to the shop and acting in good faith they removed the posters in an effort to prevent any such escalation.

“The removal of these posters elsewhere in London has caused anger and upset in recent weeks. We know a photo of our officers doing the same will cause further concern, particularly for anyone not aware of the full facts reported to us at the time.

“We have no wish to limit the rights of anyone to protest or to raise awareness of the plight of those kidnapped and the terrible impact on their families. 

“But we do have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to stop issues escalating and to avoid any further increase in community tension. On this occasion, that is what officers were trying to do. ”

Adam Ma’anit, whose cousin is among those missing in Gaza, told The Independent newspaper he felt a ‘”wave of despair” whenever he sees people tearing down the posters.

Ma’anit argued that “there is no hate on the posters” and that they are only being used to “highlight the plight of the hostages” who were taken during the October 7 attack.

“We want to remind people that children, elderly, disabled, even babies are being held hostage by Hamas,’ he told The Independent.

“Those who tear the posters down, are silencing one of the only ways we’ve been able to keep their plight fresh in the minds of people. They are silencing our suffering and pain. For the police to be party to that is deeply distressing.”

The Met said they were in contact with “local partners, community representatives and those directly involved in this incident.”

They added:” Officers are listening to and reflecting on any concerns raised with us. We are also assessing the content of the comments made on social media to identify any potential offences. ”