Metropolitan Police says it’s reviewing footage of incident and reporters should be capable to work ‘with out intimidation’.
Revealed On 26 Mar 2026
An off-duty British police officer was concerned in an incident that noticed a bunch of North London residents encompass and “intimidate” Al Jazeera journalists reporting on a suspected arson assault, the Metropolitan Police drive has confirmed.
In an e-mail to Al Jazeera on Thursday, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson mentioned the drive was “conscious that an off obligation serving Met particular constable was concerned within the altercation”.
“The matter has been referred to the Division of Skilled Requirements for evaluation,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The incident occurred on Monday within the Golders Inexperienced neighbourhood of North London, on the scene the place a suspected arson incident occurred, the spokesperson mentioned.
4 volunteer ambulances operated by a neighborhood Jewish charity had been set on fireplace within the space early on Monday, British media shops reported. Two males of their 40s had been arrested on Wednesday in relation to the assault, police mentioned.
Video footage circulating on social media confirmed a bunch of males, together with a number of sporting Jewish yarmulkes, shouting at a crew of Al Jazeera journalists to go away the realm.
One of many males, who was sporting a yarmulke and a gray hooded sweatshirt, will be seen telling an Al Jazeera crew member in Arabic: “Get out of right here, you donkey, you canine.”
That man was recognized as a Metropolitan Police officer by native information outlet Declassified UK.
The incident drew condemnation on-line, with observers expressing help for Al Jazeera and the liberty of the press.
In its assertion to Al Jazeera, the Metropolitan Police spokesperson mentioned on Thursday that the drive was conscious of the footage displaying a “verbal altercation between native residents and journalists”.
“Freedom of the press is essential, and journalists should be capable to do their job with out being topic to intimidation or harassment,” the spokesperson mentioned.
The spokesperson added that whereas officers intervened on the scene, “there was an prolonged interval the place the journalists had been put in a troublesome scenario, which led them to go away the realm”.
“Officers on obligation within the space have been requested to be alert to any related altercations within the coming days. We will likely be reviewing the footage to establish whether or not any offences had been dedicated,” the spokesperson mentioned.
