Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman says the march will cause distress if held on the anniversary of the attacks on Israel

The Metropolitan Police is calling on the organisers of a pro-Palestinian student march planned to take place on the third anniversary of the 7 October attacks on Israel to move the event.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the force had been unable to identify the organisers behind the group, which calls itself the University of London Coalition.

He said that while the march did not meet the strict legal threshold at which police could request the home secretary to ban a protest, many Londoners would be marking "a day of mourning" with vigils to remember those who died.

The BBC has contacted the group for comment via social media accounts they appear to be associated with.

Harman said around 300 students were expected to march through central London, from King's College London in the Strand on Wednesday, finishing at University College London in Holborn.

He said they had demanded an end to what they described as a "genocide in Gaza".

"Serious concerns have been expressed about the impact of this march on students and staff, particularly those who are Jewish, the route, and the day it is being held," Harman said.

He urged anyone intending to join the protest to "reflect on the impact and distress it will cause on this very significant day, and exercise your right to protest on a different date".

Harman said the force had written to four London universities to ask them to engage with their students and staff and to take "all reasonable steps" to ensure students did not feel "excluded, targeted or unsafe" due to activity on their premises.

He said the letter acknowledged "the importance of freedom of expression, peaceful protest and academic debate" but also pointed to findings from the Community Security Trust over a rise in antisemitic incidents at UK universities since the attacks in 2023.

A march can only be banned if police consider it would result in serious public disorder, and that placing restrictions on it would not prevent that disorder from taking place. The decision needs approval from the home secretary.

Harman said he did not believe the strict legal threshold required in order to request such a ban had been met.

Neither the police or the home secretary can ban static demonstrations, although conditions can be placed on them.

Harman said that if the march went ahead, police would use their "full powers" to ensure there were "appropriate conditions" in place, including on the route and timing of the march.

Police say anyone who breaches conditions will be arrested and officers will take a zero-tolerance approach to hate crime.

Harman said although officers had made "every effort through formal and informal channels" to identify the organisers behind the event, they had been unable to do so.

"If it goes ahead, we will have to police it," he added.

Around 1,200 people were killed by Hamas fighters in the attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023, and 251 people were taken hostage.

This triggered a massive Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which has killed over 70,000 Palestinians.

In June, a UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel is committing genocide, and a resolution passed by the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) in September came to the same conclusion.

More than 900 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza this year despite the ceasefire, according to latest figures from the territory's Hamas-run Ministry of Health.

Another pro-Palestinian protest is planned for Saturday 10 October, with 10,000 people expected to attend, as well as a counter-protest, which police said will be subject to strict conditions.

On Sunday 4 October, around 5,000 people are expected to attend a march in Whitechapel to mark the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street.

Police said they were not expecting disorder, but officers would be present in case of "disagreement between different groups" attending the event.

Harman said each of the events, along with the Holborn and St Pancras by-election for Sir Keir Starmer's seat on 8 October, represented a "challenge for policing".

He said officers had arrested three men, following reports of "intimidating and obstructive conduct" during canvassing in recent weekends, and "conflict between those canvassing and protesters".

Harman said that where police had intervened, it was for the purpose of preventing crime and disorder and not on any political preference, insisting "it's not a two-tier approach".

The Met says it expects more than 600 officers will be involved in policing the various protests and events over the next week, coming at a financial cost but also drawing officers away from day-to-day policing in London.

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