Police called as anti-Israel riot erupts at London university - Ari Soffer

by Ari Soffer

Window smashed, chairs hurled and Jewish student physically assaulted as anti-Israel thugs protest speech by ex-Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon.

A violent riot by anti-Israel activists at a leading London university has left Jewish students shocked and concerned about their safety on campus, and ended in at least one Jewish student being physically assaulted.

Police were called to Kings College London University on Tuesday night, after a speech by former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon was attacked with shocking violence by pro-Palestinian groups. Ironically, Ayalon - who was brought to London by the controversial liberal Jewish group Yachad - is an ardent left-wing campaigner and advocate of Israeli concessions to the Palestinians.

Security was already tight in anticipation of protests and hecklers - which commonly target pro-Israel events at London university campuses - but organizers say they were completely unprepared for the level of violence and intimidation they faced.

Anti-Israel activists from Kings' "Action Palestine" student group, as well as activists from other London universities,  hurled chairs at people attending and set off fire alarms in the building more than a dozen times in order to disrupt the event.

After eventually being forced to leave the room, the extremists then proceeded to chant loudly and bang on the windows of the venue, smashing one and leaving many of those present visibly terrified.

One student, Esther Endfield, has submitted a criminal complaint after being physically assaulted. In a Facebook post, she described "crying hysterically for over half an hour because I was so terrified."

The event was hosted by Kings' Israel Society, and was jointly organized with the Israel Society at the London School of Economics (LSE).

LSE Israel Society co-chair David Tamman described the "violent intimidation" in a Facebook post accompanying footage from the event, which shows Ayalon forging on with his speech as fire alarms blare, while anti-Israel activists thump on the door and chant outside.

[Editor: the video of this event is no longer available for viewing]


Ari Soffer

Source: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/206765#.Vp-pBVKzdds

Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.