The Met Police has issued a firm response to tackle misinformation after false claims circulated online suggesting that Jewish people had been told to remain at home due to planned pro-Palestine marches.
The post, shared by an account named “GB Politics” on X (formerly Twitter), falsely alleged: “Police request British Jews to stay at home as Pro-Palestine marches near Synagogues.”
This misleading claim rapidly spread, garnering over 1,500 retweets, including hundreds of quote tweets and thousands of likes, fuelling fear and confusion within online communities.
The Met Police has taken urgent steps to address Jewish community misinformation circulating online, as they work to counter the spread of false narratives related to pro-Palestine protests.
The Metropolitan Police took the unusual step of addressing the claim head-on. In a direct statement posted to X, the force wrote: “This claim is totally false. It’s misinformation that will only increase fear and concern in Jewish communities.
The account may look like it’s part of a well-known news channel but it isn’t. Please check the authenticity of accounts before sharing unverified or unsourced claims.”
This claim is totally false. It’s misinformation that will only increase fear and concern in Jewish communities.
The account may look like it’s part of a well-known news channel but it isn’t. Please check the authenticity of accounts before sharing unverified or unsourced claims https://t.co/x0pxtHpi9f
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) April 15, 2025
The account behind the post, GB Politics, is not affiliated with GB News, despite its similar name. It presents itself as the “True Home of UK Political News” and urges followers to seek “Actual Impartial Coverage.”
However, its blue tick — which might suggest legitimacy to the casual viewer — is simply a paid-for feature through X Premium, costing £84 annually.
Information provided by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign makes clear that there are only two planned demonstrations:
- Wednesday, 16 April: A protest outside Holborn Police Station involving Raghad Altikriti, chair of the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB).
- Saturday, 26 April: A decentralised day of action demanding a halt to UK arms sales to Israel.
There is no suggestion that either event involves routes near synagogues.
Despite being entirely unfounded, the post from GB Politics went viral. Among those taken in by the misinformation was former Conservative London mayoral candidate Susan Hall. She commented, “How about we stop the marches if Jews are not safe on our streets – outrageous!”
Another user added: “So basically they’re admitting that the Pro-Palestine marching mob are prone to violence and are dangerous, especially for Jewish people.”
The Met Police addressed Hall’s reaction directly, stating: “We have responded to this unverified claim, which was posted by an anonymous account likely intended to look like a particular news channel.”
As of Tuesday, 15 April, both the original post from GB Politics and Susan Hall’s repost remain visible online. The widespread dissemination of this false information underscores the dangers of unverified content being treated as fact — particularly when it stokes fear in minority communities.
