Storming of Israeli Embassy
Joe | 17.05.2002 23:17
Indymedia only source to publish this story as it was censored in press so as not to make the Jewish community feel more under threat.
Last update - 00:37 18/05/2002Left-wing extremists tried to storm Israeli embassy in London
By Sharon Sadeh, Ha'aretz Correspndent
Security forces turned back about 20 left-wing extremists who stormed the Israeli embassy in London on Monday and attempted to enter the building. The incident was reported on Friday because the embassy decided to try to keep the incident out of the press.
Scotland Yard said Friday that at 1:50 P.M. on Monday, British police were dispatched to the Israeli embassy when some 20 or more demonstrators attempted to scale the fence surrounding the compound. After police arrived, the demonstrators were alarmed and left the area. One man, in his twenties, received medical treatment at the scene. London police took no additional action in the matter.
According to eyewitnesses, the demonstrators climbed the fence and tried to enter the embassy building. According to a security source, the goal of the demonstrators was "to destroy everything in their way." Security guards at the embassy, with the help of a large London police force dispatched to the scene, were able to fend off the demonstrators after a violent scuffle, during which one of the demonstrators was lightly injured.
During the incident, embassy workers were instructed to remain inside the building until the demonstrators were removed.
The embassy, in consultation with security officials, decided to prevent the incident from being reported in teh media, apparently in order to prevent alarm in the Jewish community in Great Britain. Security sources did say, however, that this was the first time in recent years that the embassy was subject to a violent attack.
The attack occurred one day after a Sunday Times report quoted a leader of London-based fundamentalist group al-Muhajiroun as saying that the Israeli embassy in London and its employees were a legitimate target for suicide attacks.
In October last year the group called on British Muslims to assassinate Prime Minister Tony Blair to avenge the bombing of Taliban forces in Afghanistan.
Over the last six months security has been stepped up considerably at the embassy. Muslim and pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest next to the embassy almost every Friday.
The increasing number of security alerts during this period have become a disturbance to work at the embassy.
By Sharon Sadeh, Ha'aretz Correspndent
Security forces turned back about 20 left-wing extremists who stormed the Israeli embassy in London on Monday and attempted to enter the building. The incident was reported on Friday because the embassy decided to try to keep the incident out of the press.
Scotland Yard said Friday that at 1:50 P.M. on Monday, British police were dispatched to the Israeli embassy when some 20 or more demonstrators attempted to scale the fence surrounding the compound. After police arrived, the demonstrators were alarmed and left the area. One man, in his twenties, received medical treatment at the scene. London police took no additional action in the matter.
According to eyewitnesses, the demonstrators climbed the fence and tried to enter the embassy building. According to a security source, the goal of the demonstrators was "to destroy everything in their way." Security guards at the embassy, with the help of a large London police force dispatched to the scene, were able to fend off the demonstrators after a violent scuffle, during which one of the demonstrators was lightly injured.
During the incident, embassy workers were instructed to remain inside the building until the demonstrators were removed.
The embassy, in consultation with security officials, decided to prevent the incident from being reported in teh media, apparently in order to prevent alarm in the Jewish community in Great Britain. Security sources did say, however, that this was the first time in recent years that the embassy was subject to a violent attack.
The attack occurred one day after a Sunday Times report quoted a leader of London-based fundamentalist group al-Muhajiroun as saying that the Israeli embassy in London and its employees were a legitimate target for suicide attacks.
In October last year the group called on British Muslims to assassinate Prime Minister Tony Blair to avenge the bombing of Taliban forces in Afghanistan.
Over the last six months security has been stepped up considerably at the embassy. Muslim and pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest next to the embassy almost every Friday.
The increasing number of security alerts during this period have become a disturbance to work at the embassy.
Joe
Comments
Display the following 6 comments