Tube driver who chanted 'free, free Palestine' suspended as TfL launches investigation

23 October 2023, 18:14 | Updated: 23 October 2023, 18:44

The Central Line driver led the chants 'free, free Palestine' over the weekend
The Central Line driver led the chants 'free, free Palestine' over the weekend. Picture: Alamy/Getty
Kieran Kelly

By Kieran Kelly

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: No new powers for police, No10 says, as Braverman probes why Met allowed 'jihad' chant during pro-Palestine protest

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."

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