To think we should avoid London right now?

[StayorgoLDN]

Due to visit London in the next few weeks.

Anxious with Palestinian protests and so forth in the news. I don’t want to be near that with young children, and worried that it may escalate to some sort of attack.

We are not Jews, but presuming as the U.K. is supporting Israel that we’ll all be fair game ie there might be an attack/bomb somewhere prominent to send a message to gov.

Have been in London during terrorist attacks before and I’d rather avoid.

AIBU to consider rescheduling our family trip to next year?

Very personal choice. I live near London no fears at all. Not sure why worried about protests. Both countries been subjected to vile treatment. Been in London during protests before no worries, but as said before personal choice.

Agree with stop spreading fear narrative.

Well I work in central London so it seems bonkers to me

… but I do remember I was out of london the summer of the London Bridge attacks and I felt a tiny flutter of something, so I get it can feel like a hot spot from the outside (sort of)

But honestly I would just crack on with our life. The chances of you being caught up in anything are tiny.

If only my cousin in Beeri had been given 24 hours to leave he might not have been shot by terrorists last weekend. And his two 12 year old twin grandchildren might not be missing. And the police might not have had to take DNA from their mother in order to identify their bodies. Please God they're still alive. Unlike the 40 babies with throats slit or beheaded. And many hundred others.

Just been walking around Oxford St, Piccadilly and Trafalgar Sq. It's fairly busy, as ever, but absolutely fine.

Colateral damage as far as Hamas are concerned

Yes exactly that

Jewish people here have always tried to keep their heads down

So sorry about your cousin's situation

I walked through Trafalgar Square at lunchtime to meet a friend in Soho. It was busy with the march but calm and orderly. Lots of people came to the restaurant I was in after the march - again, it felt absolutely fine.
The whole situation is unbearable. For Jews and Israelis, and Muslims and Palestinians. I'm far more concerned for everyone in Israel and Gaza and their safety - and for my Jewish friends in London- than I am for anyone in central London who is a passer through.
So to answer your question directly, central London seems fine, speaking as a white middle class Londoner who has no religious affiliations. I'm sure it feels different for other people.

Without wishing to sound flippant I felt more concerned about that on the tube than anything else today!

I live in central London about 300 yards from where the big demo Saturday afternoon was to pass. Went out around four, not a sign of anything. Just tons of shoppers. It’s where there are Jewish communities (Golders Green obvs) and schools (you’ll have seen the news) that there’s tension.

That news about the babies have been deemed fake & the journalist has apologised for false news .. not that it helps now as it has gone viral and the apology won’t.

Was on Kensington high street yesterday, a small group of friendly protesters and there were a few armed police and vans where this was happening. I walked right past this protest………didn’t think twice!

You're right, only some of the murdered babies were decapitated. Others were just hacked, shot or burned to death. Phew. Glad that's all OK then.

No. London is as safe as ever it was. Protests rarely turn to violence in the UK and we cannot tell where there will be violence, either. If we run our lives in fear we are giving in to terror, too. A week after the 7/7 bombings my son and daughter, then in their twenties, went to London to visit museums and family. I was not worried but did tell my son not to wear a backpack - he is part Indian and quite dark, so this seemed a reasonable precaution. They were perfectly ok.

I guarantee you (as much as I can do, she might be an outlier and I don't know her) that your Israeli friend will be extremely grateful for you checking in with her.
I don't know any Jews who aren't very very badly affected by this, and almost all of us have lost extended family or friends one way or another. Even more so if she is actually Israeli, rather than a British Jew.

Thank you. x

I was down there last weekend and the only protesting was flags on cars and a lot of tooting.....but that was it..... There will always be a threat .... It's up to you how you figure out that risk....London is a huge city though.... So chances are you will avoid anything going on like that x

@Anele22 i’m so sorry 😞 . Prayers for you and your family 🤍

Tbh, the police need to get a grip and disperse any of these protests taking place. They’re just a breeding ground for people who have an axe to grind about anything, and want to intimidate others just going about their business. Next step will be the looting. The flares and bottle throwing have already started. There’s no place on our streets for this kind of mob mentality.

Friendly as long as you know your place and don’t express an opinion if different to their’s. Then not so friendly I suspect…

Oh FFS. Protesters are not 'filling the streets'. I live and work and socialise in London and haven't seen anything.

I'm Jewish. This is my home. I was born here.

Do you think it would have been OK for me to go to the national gallery today? I'm a member and wanted to see some of the temporary exhibitions before they finish.

The pic below is of the march that went from broadcasting House to downing St via trafalgar Square. Do you think I'd be OK taking my (jewish) children through that?

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67110119

@BlurredEdges You can stand up for the right of the Palestinians, call Israel out on their war crimes and the amount of international laws they’re breaking without being pro Hamas

Glad you’ve posted the pictures. Pictures don’t lie, but I’m sure someone will come along soon and say this never happened and is taken from another event somewhere else………

You’re being a bit daft because London is a big city, no trouble yet. Last big attack was in Manchester, incidents in Wales. Are you just going to stay in?
We live in London, there’s no overhanging feeling of doom or threat, it feels normal.

I'm visibly muslim (I wear corporate clothing and headscarf) and have experienced hate crime twice this week on my way back from work due to the war. Although both times were from Americans not Brits.

Although it is a regular occurrence for myself but usually once a month a month or so but it's always heightened whenever there is something related to islam in the media. Lived in london my whole life so experienced.

I can imagine that Jewish community are also experiencing the same.

So i'd say YANBU as I think emotions are high and people are being more vocal than usually. However it entirely depends on the way you look, where you go and just pure luck. Most likely you will not experience any sort of hate crime particularly as the protest are mostly peaceful, but if you have some trauma i'd reschedule so you can enjoy yourself more later.