During London’s Pride March on Saturday, July 4, Jewish attendees were subjected to a series of antisemitic verbal attacks in the Soho area, according to footage shared online. The Metropolitan Police have acknowledged the incidents and are currently reviewing evidence as part of an ongoing investigation.
Videos posted on social media depict individuals holding Israeli and rainbow LGBT+ flags being targeted with abusive language. Among the remarks captured were calls to “go back to your Zionist homeland,” accusations that “you kill Arab children, you kill gay children,” references to the conflict in Gaza, and explicit insults including “f--- you Jew.” Multiple individuals can be seen in the videos engaging in this harassment while police officers are present but do not intervene or make arrests related to the verbal abuse.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed that although officers were on site during the Pride event, no arrests were made in connection with racist or religiously motivated abuse. The force did report detaining individuals on unrelated offences. The spokesperson said, “We are aware of videos circulating online that show antisemitic verbal abuse directed towards attendees at the Pride in London event on Saturday, 4 July. Officers are currently reviewing footage to assess and investigate.”
Advocacy groups expressed concern over the incidents and the police response. A representative from Campaign Against Antisemitism stated that, while Jewish people often feel excluded from broader inclusive movements, they remain entitled to protection under the law equivalent to all other groups. Stop the Hate, an organization that hosted Jewish Pride celebrations on the same day, condemned the abuse: “A small number of individuals chose hatred over humanity, hurling antisemitic abuse at people who had come only to celebrate love and identity.” They urged the Metropolitan Police to take robust action against those responsible.
The events come amid a broader rise in antisemitic attacks across London in recent months, including an alleged attempted murder of two Jewish men in Golders Green and a firebombing targeting ambulances operated by a Jewish organization. In response, the Metropolitan Police previously formed a community protection unit of about 100 officers dedicated to safeguarding the Jewish community. Since late March, more than 90 hate crime arrests have been reported by the police across the city.
The Metropolitan Police indicated that investigations into the Pride March incidents are ongoing as they seek to determine whether criminal offences occurred and to identify perpetrators behind the abuse.