PM BLASTS MET POLICE FOR NOT ACTING ON 'JIHADI' CHANTS

Rishi: Calls for jihad on our streets are a threat to our democratic values

- Sam Lister and Michael Knowles

RISHI Sunak has told police to tackle pro-Palestine extremism "head on" after protesters calling for jihad were not arrested.

He dismissed claims that the Met needs more powers to fight hate crimes and told bosses to get on with the job using existing laws.

Mr Sunak also revealed that British intelligence services believe that the mass-casualty blast which wrecked a Gaza hospital compound last week was probably caused by a missile launched from within the area towards Israel.

Updating MPs on developments since the October 7 atrocities committed in southern Israel by invading Hamas terrorists, the Premier said that police chiefs must use the "full force of the law" against extremist demonstrators.

MPs said that British Jews' feeling of being at risk had been made worse by the "apparent refusal of the Metropolitan Police to do anything about it".

Downing Street aides said further measures are not needed to tackle extremist language during protests since forces already have "extensive powers".

Home Secretary Suella Braverman confronted Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley about the decision not to arrest protesters chanting "jihad" at a pro-Palestine march in London at the weekend.

Mr Sunak said: "Hateful extremism has no place in our society. Calls for jihad and Muslim armies to rise up are not only a threat to the Jewish community threat to our democratic but also a values."

The PM said that where there are "gaps" in the law he is "happy to address and look at those".

But he went on: "The police do have the powers to arrest those who are inciting violence or racial hatred. There is no place on our streets for that...and we will work extensively to clarify the guidance to officers on the ground so they are aware fully about the powers and tools that are available to them to make sure these people feel the force of the law."