28 January 2024 , 12:36
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A suspended Tube driver who led an anti-Israel "free Palestine" chant on an Underground train has apologised for his behaviour.
But anti-Semitism campaigners continue to demand the driver gets fired after footage showed him chanting "free free" eight times over the train's speaker system. It prompted passengers travelling on the Central Line to respond with "Palestine" - which is a popular chant at demonstrations.
He was suspended days after the incident in October last year, believed to have happened on a train taking large numbers of protesters to Marble Arch for a pro-Palestine rally. The driver told passengers: "So, as I feel part of it, kindly join me as we proceed to Bond Street," before urging for the passengers' responses to be "louder, please, louder!"
But he's now apologised in a letter, which has been passed on to Jewish groups by Transport for London (TfL). It is understood to read: "I would like to express my apology for the effect that my actions has on my customers and the wider community that day. It was never my intention to make anybody feel uncomfortable and i give you my unreserved apology for any offence that may have been caused. I'm committed to learning from this experience."
But the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism have felt the apology does not go far enough, branding the incident a "disgrace to TfL". Jewish campaigners had blasted the man's "grossly unprofessional" behaviour.
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A spokesperson for Campaign Against Anti-Semitism told The Sun: "Imagine being a Jewish person that train, not only intimidated by demonstrators around you, but also in the knowledge that you might not be able to rely on the very TfL staff tasked with your safety. This incident was a disgrace to TfL, and coming at a time of heightened tension, it was downright dangerous."
Conservative candidate for London mayor Susan Hall also supported calls for the driver to be sacked for his "outrageous" behaviour. The apology was accepted by Andrew Gilbert, from the London Jewish Forum, who said the letter showed "genuine remorse," adding that he was "very satisfied" with the way British transport Police and TfL handled the situation.
The footage was posted online in October when pro-Palastine demonstrations were - and still are - marred in controversy with some protesters holding vile signs with the Nazi symbol and photos of Hitler. Numerous arrests have taken place against those accused of holding offensive signs.