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Tube driver who chanted 'free, free Palestine' suspended as TfL launches investigation
23 October 2023, 18:14 | Updated: 23 October 2023, 18:44
A London Underground driver who chanted 'free, free Palestine' over the weekend has been suspended by Transport for London pending further investigation.
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The incident happened on Saturday as around 100,000 protesters took part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
Footage posted online by a journalist appeared to show the chant being led over the train's speaker system.
The driver of the Central Line service said "free, free" to which the passengers responded "Palestine" - a popular chant at protests.
Posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, the video shows a Central line driver leading Tube passengers into a chant of “free Palestine” using the train’s announcement system.
Passengers on board are shown joining in and finishing the chant before the driver continues “hope you all have a blessed day today and look after yourself”."Keep all those people in your prayers," the driver finally adds.
Read More: Tube driver investigated after leading passengers in ‘free Palestine chant’
Glynn Barton, Transport for London's chief operating officer, said: "We have been urgently and thoroughly investigating the footage appearing to show a Tube driver misusing the PA system and leading chants on a Central line train on Saturday.
"A driver has now been identified and suspended whilst we continue to fully investigate the incident in line with our policies and procedures."