A tube driver who appeared to lead a chant of “free, free Palestine” on a train has been suspended while Transport for London investigates the incident.
TfL said it had identified the driver responsible for the incident on a central London service on Saturday, as about 100,000 protesters took part in a pro-Palestine demonstration and demanded an end to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
Video footage posted online by a journalist appeared to show the chant being led over the train’s speaker system. The driver said “free, free” to which passengers responded “Palestine”.
Glynn Barton, TfL’s chief operating officer, said: “We have been urgently and thoroughly investigating the footage appearing to show a tube driver misusing the PA system and leading chants on a Central line train on Saturday.
“A driver has now been identified and suspended whilst we continue to fully investigate the incident in line with our policies and procedures.”
The British Transport Police’s assistant chief constable, Sean O’Callaghan, previously said the force was “aware of footage circulating on social media which suggests chants are led by driver of a train in London earlier”.
Finn Brennan, a full-time organiser on London Underground for the train drivers’ union, Aslef, said: “We are aware that a Tube train driver has been suspended while an investigation takes place.
“The involvement of the police in this matter is a ridiculous overreaction to something that should clearly be dealt with internally by Transport for London in line with normal procedures.”
The driver was criticised by some MPs. The minister for London, Paul Scully, said staff should “focus on the day job” and warned against stoking tensions in the capital.
He said: “At a time when there’s not enough emphasis on the difference between the horrific terrorist attacks by Hamas and the legitimate concerns of Palestinians in Gaza, it’s really important that Londoners don’t stoke the tension in our capital where Jews live peacefully alongside Muslims.
“Informed protest can bring change. But on-trend bandwagons can cause rifts and fear in communities, increasing the threat to the safety of some passengers travelling among those crowds.”
The security minister, Tom Tugendhat, wrote on X: “London’s tube’s are for everyone. Many will find this intimidating.
“@MayorofLondon has a duty to help all Londoners feel safe”.
The Israeli embassy wrote: “It is deeply troubling to see such intolerance on London’s tubes … public transport should be a place of safety and inclusivity for all.”
