A few hours after the terrorist attack, Britons took to the streets; "I don't care about the Jewish community"

The gatherings were organized as a protest against the detention of Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg off the Israeli coast, after she, along with other activists, attempted to deliver a humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza.

Activists were called upon to "block the tracks" at major railway stations across the United Kingdom, including Manchester Piccadilly, reports The Telegraph.

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Alex Hern, co-director of the organization Labour Against Antisemitism, emphasized that so-called "pro-Palestinian protests" often include racist elements directed against Jews, which he described as unacceptable.

"To hold a march in Manchester immediately after a deadly attack on the Jewish community in that city is not only incomprehensible – but also features references to a terrorist organization that is banned," Hern said.

He compared this protest to similar events on October 7, stressing that they are unacceptable and threaten public order.

A pro-Palestinian demonstrator at the Westminster rally in London, Fiona Smith, stated that “at this moment” she does not care about the Jewish community.

“I honestly don’t care about the Jewish community right now. I’ve thought about it, and I am sorry for what happened, but the whole story and the reason we are here is because of what happened yesterday (with the flotilla),” she said.

Her friend, Sibilla Todaro, 39, who lives in London, explained that this was an “emergency protest” because, as she put it, during Wednesday’s attack “a group of people from different countries was effectively kidnapped in international waters with the flotilla — and that is a crime.”

“None of us are against the Jewish community – we are against Zionism. Many Jewish people are here with us, protesting, which clearly shows they condemn what happened today and support this cause,” she stressed.

Flyers shared on social media called on pro-Palestinian activists to gather at 19 locations across the UK between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, mostly at major train stations in cities, including Cardiff Central, Sheffield railway station, Farnborough station in Surrey, as well as Parliament Square in London, Manchester Piccadilly, and Lime Street in Liverpool.

The London public transport authority, Transport for London, announced that it has no plans to close Westminster Underground Station, which serves Parliament Square.

British police decided to allow the protest at Manchester’s main railway station, but a spokesperson for the British Transport Police (BTP) said officers would intervene if demonstrators attempted to enter the station.

Meanwhile, the campaign group Defend Our Juries, which has led pro-Palestinian demonstrations in recent weeks, refused to postpone its protest in London scheduled for this weekend.

The event, planned for Saturday afternoon at Trafalgar Square, aims to be the largest mass action ever defying the ban on the organization Palestine Action, which has been designated as a terrorist group.

Organizers said they responded to a letter from Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Ade Adelekan, who had requested a postponement due to the Manchester terrorist attack. He reportedly warned that such protests place “significant pressure on the police” and divert officers “away from the communities they serve.”

Defend Our Juries stated it was “regrettable” that the Home Office had not “decided to overturn” the ban on Palestine Action.

“As you will surely understand, protecting our democracy and preventing countless deaths are crucial issues. Therefore, our protest will take place as planned this Saturday. We urge you to prioritize safeguarding communities rather than arresting those peacefully holding banners against the absurd and draconian ban on a domestic direct action group,” the group said.

More than 1,500 people have been arrested for supporting Palestine Action since the group was banned on July 5. Most were detained after holding banners at protests reading: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.”

The group was designated as a terrorist organization after claiming responsibility for an operation in which two Voyager aircraft were damaged at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire in June.

Yesterday, British police classified the deadly vehicle and knife attack at a synagogue in Manchester as an act of terrorism. The attacker was shot dead by police, while two additional suspects were arrested later in the day.

Police identified the suspected attacker as 35-year-old Jihad al-Shamieh, a British citizen of Syrian origin.