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Officers are urgently seeking the public’s help in identifying 15 individuals who took part in a pro-Palestinian convoy that caused significant disruption on the A13 and the Limehouse Link Tunnel on Saturday night. The Metropolitan Police are releasing images of the suspects believed to have been involved in the offences.
The incident unfolded at approximately 10.15pm when police became aware of a convoy of cars adorned with Palestinian flags heading towards central London. It is believed that the cars initially departed from a car park in Hancock Road, Tower Hamlets. In response, road policing units, public order teams, and the police helicopter were deployed to intercept the convoy.
The convoy was halted on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, with a dispersal order put into effect. Notices under Section 59 of the Police Reform Act were issued to all 80 cars, ordering them to disperse and cease their participation in the convoy. Failure to comply would result in their vehicles being seized.
Officers subsequently confiscated one vehicle and issued fixed penalty notices to 18 drivers for various traffic violations. Additionally, nine vehicles were served with prohibition notices due to discovered defects rendering them unfit for use.
Further investigations by the police unveiled that while en route to London, the convoy twice stopped on major roads, namely the A13 and the Limehouse Link Tunnel. These actions not only caused significant disruption but also posed a danger to other road users.
Authorities have been meticulously examining social media and other available footage to identify those believed to have been involved in offences committed during the convoy. The images of the suspects are now being released to the public in hopes of their identification.
T/Commander Karen Findlay, who oversaw the recent policing operation, expressed concern about previous instances where convoys passing through Jewish communities had involved occupants waving flags and engaging in anti-Semitic abuse. She emphasised that such incidents understandably caused significant alarm, fear, and distress.
Findlay assured the public that prompt action was taken to prevent the convoy from reaching areas where its presence would provoke alarm and intimidation. She underscored the importance of identifying individuals suspected of involvement in earlier offences committed during the convoy’s journey.
“The public have been a great help in recent weeks when similar appeals have been made, and I have no doubt they’ll continue to do the same,” Findlay added.
Members of the public with any information that could aid the identification of the individuals pictured in the released images are urged to contact the police by calling 101, quoting reference 4237915/23, and providing the unique number displayed in the bottom corner of the images. Alternatively, information can be shared anonymously with the independent charity Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.
