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.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

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."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

A 29-year-old man, who has not been named, from Halifax, West Yorkshire was at the Funky Flamingo bar on March 22 when the incident occurred.

Brit dies on Benidorm stag do months before wedding after falling off bar stool backwards

Katy Perry holding a daisy up to the sky after her flight in Blue Origin’s New Shepard NS-31

Katy Perry will write a song about her experience after returning from space

Staff arrived on Friday morning to find out the foodbank had been broken into and vandalised.

Charity workers 'devastated' as church foodbank in Glasgow trashed and vandalised during 'break-in'

Jamie Redknapp working as a pundit in 2024.

Jamie Redknapp banned from driving for 12 months after being caught speeding twice

The graves of 'babies and young children' have been defaced at a cemetery in Watford

'Unspeakable act' sees 85 graves vandalised in 'Islamophobic hate crime' including graves of 'babies and children'

Exclusive
Franck Magennis, a barrister at Garden Court Chambers, is arguing that Hamas should be removed from the UK's list of proscribed terrorist groups.

Hamas 'poses no threat to UK' claims lawyer fighting to remove group from terror list

Lexi Jones is the daughter of Ziggy Stardust singer David Bowie.

David Bowie's daughter Lexi Jones releases debut album as she slams claims she's 'copying' father in heartfelt message

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake has shaken southern California, sending boulders tumbling on to rural roads outside San Diego and rattling items off shelves and walls, but officials reported no injuries or major damage.

5.2 earthquake rocks Southern California shaking buildings

"Rush" - World Premiere - Inside Arrivals

Cause of death of Warwick Davis' wife revealed as family hoped inquest into death would 'provide us with answers'

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has been diagnosed with pneumonia and will miss the clubs next two games

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe diagnosed with pneumonia and will remain in hospital

Kevin Campbell died of natural causes at the age of 54 coroner finds

Former Arsenal and Everton footballer Kevin Campbell died of natural causes, coroner finds

Jeff Bezos owns the Blue Origin space tourism company

How much is it to fly on the Blue Origin space tourism rocket?

Abbi Taylor

'Adult baby diaper lover' admits dumping soiled nappies and smearing excrement on milk bottles at nurseries

Scientists have found a new antibiotic that could treat gonorrhoea

Scientists hail first new antibiotic for gonorrhoea in decades amid rise in 'super strains'

Police have named the man killed in an explosion in Worksop

Pictured: Father who died in Worksop house explosion named after massive blast

Blue Origin launched into space today with an all-female crew

Who was on the all-female Blue Origin rocket? From Katy Perry to Jeff Bezos fianceé Lauren Sánchez