UK’s counterterrorism squad has appealed for footage or images related to the Palestinian militant group Hamas' attack in Israel after a number of British citizens have been killed in the country.
Hamas carried out a barrage of air strikes in Southern Israel on Saturday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in response launched multiple attacks targeting Hamas' key infrastructure.
Over 2,000 people have been killed in Israel and Gaza in the biggest escalation in decades between the two sides.
The Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command said in its appeal on Wednesday evening that specialist officers are in close contact with the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to act upon information being received about British nationals.
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The UK police have a role in assisting with the repatriation of loved ones back to the country and the Met Police said it had started gathering information that may assist any subsequent coronial process.
"This appeal is directed at anyone who may have already returned from Israel in the past few days and has footage or images of the terrorist attacks,” the Met Police said.
"There may also be people in the UK who have friends, relatives or loved ones in Israel and have been sent direct messages, images or videos. We would ask that people don’t report footage or information that they have come across through open source research – media reports, online or on social media,” it said.
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The appeal came as a charity which helps Jewish people in the UK reported that antisemitic incidents in the country had tripled since the conflict began last Saturday.
The Community Security Trust (CST) said it recorded 89 "anti-Jewish hate" incidents since October 7, which marked a 324 per cent rise on the 21 antisemitic incidents recorded over the same period last year. Earlier this week, UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman had written to police chiefs of the country to take tough action against such hate crimes.
“Context is crucial. Behaviours that are legitimate in some circumstances, for example, the waving of a Palestinian flag, may not be legitimate such as when intended to glorify acts of terrorism.
"Nor is it acceptable to drive through Jewish neighbourhoods, or single out Jewish members of the public, to aggressively chant or wave pro-Palestinian symbols at,” reads her letter.
Meanwhile, the royal family joined senior political figures to express their “deep shock” at the developments in the Middle East while Foreign Secretary James Cleverly travelled to Israel in a show of UK support.
"Today I've seen a glimpse of what millions experience every day. The threat of Hamas rockets lingers over every Israeli man, woman and child. This is why we are standing shoulder to shoulder with Israel,” said Cleverly, after videos shared online showed the Cabinet minister running for cover as air raid sirens blared in the city of Ofakim.
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The Israeli foreign ministry said the siren was warning citizens of incoming Hamas rocket fire.
King Charles III spoke to Yitzhak Herzog, the President of Israel, and King Abdullah of Jordan on Wednesday afternoon.
“His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel,” the monarch’s spokesperson said after the phone call.
In a statement on social media, a spokesperson for the Prince and Princess of Wales – William and Kate – said: "[They] are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days.
"The horrors inflicted by Hamas's terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling, they utterly condemn them. As Israel exercises its right to self-defence, all Israelis and Palestinians will be continued to be stalked by grief, fear and anger in the time to come," it said.
