Met officer suspended after calling Al Jazeera reporter ‘dog’ at Golders Green arson scene
Off-duty special constable filmed hurling abuse at journalist covering attack on Jewish ambulances
An off-duty Metropolitan Police special constable has been suspended after being filmed verbally abusing an Al Jazeera journalist at the scene of the Golders Green ambulance arson attack.
David Soffer, identified as a serving officer, was seen confronting a film crew reporting on the incident, in which four Jewish community ambulances were set alight. Footage circulating online shows him among a group shouting at journalists to leave the area.
In the video, Soffer approaches a Palestinian reporter and calls him a “dog” and a “donkey” in Arabic. He is also heard telling the journalist to “go back to Qatar” and repeatedly ordering him to leave.
Other individuals in the crowd can be heard shouting phrases including “Al Jazeera off our streets”, “go home” and “terrorist”.
The incident took place as the media covered the aftermath of the suspected arson attack in Golders Green, which has deeply shaken the local Jewish community.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed that an investigation is underway. They said: “An investigation by the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards into the actions of an off-duty Met Special Constable is ongoing.
“On Saturday evening, following an assessment carried out as part of that investigation, the officer was suspended.”
The force had previously said it would review footage to determine whether any offences had been committed by those involved. No further updates have been issued.
Soffer is reported to have removed references to his police role from his LinkedIn profile after being identified.
The confrontation adds to tensions surrounding the Golders Green attack, which is being investigated as a serious incident affecting Jewish communal safety.
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