The Metropolitan and Greater Manchester police forces have said they will arrest people holding placards and chanting the phrase ‘globalise the intifada’ – an Arabic word for uprising.
In a statement following Sunday’s mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, they said: “Violent acts have taken place, the context has changed – words have meaning and consequence. We will act decisively and make arrests”.
The two forces also referenced the Manchester synagogue attack in October.
The UK’s chief rabbi told the BBC this week that chants of ‘globalise the intifada’ had helped lead to the two attacks.
The police forces said: “We know communities are concerned about placards and chants such as ‘globalise the intifada’ and those using it at future protests or in a targeted way should expect” the two forces “to take action”.
“Frontline officers will be briefed on this enhanced approach. We will also use powers under the Public Order Act, including conditions around London synagogues during services,” the statement said.
Visible patrols and protective security measures around synagogues, schools, and community venues have been stepped up in London and Greater Manchester.
Fifteen people were killed and dozens of others were injured in Sunday’s Bondi attack, which targeted Australia’s Jewish community at an event celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.
Two people died in the knife attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on 2 October.
The term intifada came into popular use during the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1987.
It was a largely unarmed and popular uprising that continued until the early 1990s. The intifada also saw the development of groups outside the control of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) – notably Hamas.
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