Met increases patrols in London after reports of Israel attack celebrations

The Metropolitan police have said they have increased patrols in London after receiving reports of people celebrating the attack on Israel by Hamas.

Hamas sent fighters across the border and fired thousands of rockets in what it said was a new operation on Saturday morning. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the group would “pay a price that it hasn’t known until now” as he called up reservists.

In a statement on Saturday evening, Scotland Yard said it was “aware of a number of incidents, including those that have been shared on social media, in relation to the ongoing conflict in Israel and [at] the border with Gaza”.

“The Met has increased policing patrols across parts of London in order to provide a visible presence and reassurance to our communities,” it added.

“We are aware that the ongoing conflict may lead to protests over the coming days. We will ensure that an appropriate policing plan is in place in order to balance the right to protest against any disruption to Londoners.”

Earlier, the Countdown presenter Rachel Riley posted a video to social media of people waving Palestinian flags and sounding car horns.

She also wrote: “I just passed two cars in west London driving with Palestinian flags flying from each window, bouncing up and down in their cars, seemingly celebrating like they were having a party. Make no mistake, this is a dangerous and terrifying time for all Jews around the world.”

The Met was urged to intervene by the immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who shared Riley’s video.

At least 250 people have been killed and 1,800 wounded in the incursion in Israel, according to the country’s national rescue service, making it the deadliest attack in Israel in years. After the country’s retaliation, at least 232 people have been killed and 1,610 wounded in Gaza, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Rishi Sunak called the attack by Hamas on Israel “cowardly and depraved”. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sunak wrote: “As the barbarity of today’s atrocities becomes clearer, we stand unequivocally with Israel.

“We have expressed our full solidarity to Netanyahu and will work with international partners in the next 24 hours to coordinate support.”