Green Party leader Zack Polanski has apologised for retweeting a post that suggested police used excessive force during the arrest of a suspect in the Golders Green attack last week. In an interview with the BBC, Polanski described the incident and the footage of the arrest as 'traumatic'.
Polanski also said he would discourage pro-Palestine protesters from using the phrase 'globalise the intifada' but stressed that he is 'not interested' in policing language. He told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that it is not a phrase he would personally use, but he defended the right to protest and urged people to use more effective language.
The Met police commissioner, Mark Rowley, has previously stated that people using the chant are 'likely to be arrested'. Polanski reiterated that he wants protesters to be 'more effective' and avoid getting into arguments about language.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander criticised Polanski's retweet as 'disgusting' and 'absolutely abhorrent', adding that he is not 'fit to lead a political party'. Polanski's apology comes amid ongoing debate over antisemitism and language used in pro-Palestine protests.
