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A London Underground train operator was recorded leading passengers in a chant of “free Palestine” and will be permitted to resume work after apologizing to religious groups.
The operator of the Central Line was temporarily removed from duty after he was caught using the train’s speaker system to encourage demonstrators with phrases like “liberate Palestine” and “without justice, there can be no peace” on October 21st.
Based on the accounts of the individuals who recorded the event, the driver claimed he was unable to participate in the large rally in support of Palestine that took place that day. The protest, which drew approximately 100,000 individuals, occurred in central London to condemn Israel’s destructive attacks on Gaza in response to Hamas’s violent attack on October 7th.
The TfL staff member was caught on camera encouraging protestors to speak up and then offering a kind message, saying, “I hope you all have a blessed day today. Take care of yourselves and keep those in need in your thoughts and prayers.”
The individual was put on hold while TfL looked into the event following the release of a video online that received backlash from Conservative Members of Parliament and the Israeli Embassy. The embassy stated, “It is concerning to witness such lack of acceptance on London’s transportation… public transportation should be a secure and welcoming space for everyone.”
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for TfL stated that disciplinary measures were taken after a comprehensive internal examination following our established formal protocols.
They stated that the driver has sent a letter of apology to faith groups with whom we have been communicating since October. The apology is for the announcements made and the negative impact they had on customers traveling on the train and in the community.
At TfL, it is of utmost importance that our network is perceived and actually is a secure and inclusive environment for all individuals in London. We are committed to taking all necessary measures to uphold this standard.
The British Transport Police had previously stated that they were looking into the matter and collaborating with TfL. The Aslef union criticized this as an excessive response, stating that the issue should be handled internally by TfL following standard procedures.
On Wednesday, the union representing train drivers expressed their satisfaction with the resolution of this case, which aligns with London Underground’s disciplinary policy.
Sources from the company have reported that the driver’s suspension has been revoked and they will be resuming their duties.
PA has provided supplementary news reporting.
Source: independent.co.uk
