Police close tube posters investigation

A POLICE inquiry into anti-Israel posters which were put up across the London Underground has closed with no prospect of any future prosecutions.

The investigation into more than 200 posters had been re-opened by British Transport Police last week, but was brought to an end again on Tuesday.

The posters were placed across tube trains during Israel Apartheid Week (IAW) in February.

It is understood no witnesses came forward with information about who put up the images.

Detective Inspector Gabriel Oresajo, who headed the probe, said officers had pursued a line of inquiry relating to the alleged involvement of activists thought to have ties to two institutions in the capital at the end of last week. But the lead came to nothing and the case has now been dropped.

The posters showed mocked-up versions of BBC reports and claimed the corporation’s coverage of the Middle East was biased in favour of Israel.

They were placed on trains including Jubilee line carriages heading south from Stanmore. The stunt was widely circulated on social media to raise awareness of IAW.

The decision to re-open the case last Friday came after the UK Lawyers for Israel group contacted DI Oresajo and London Mayor Boris Johnson, who is chairman of Transport for London.

In response to UKLFI chair Jonathan Turner, Mr Johnson wrote: “I recognise the considerable concerns regarding the advertisements denigrating Israel.

“Placing posters on trains is a criminal act and this material has no place whatsoever on the TfL network. TfL takes acts of vandalism extremely seriously.”

Mr Turner said: “We are grateful to Boris Johnson for taking a personal concern in the matter. We hope this example will be followed by the next mayor.”

The JC understands that a criminal prosecutioninthecasewouldhavebeen unlikely under any circumstances, with police limited to the option of a fine for breach of a by-law if a perpetrator had been identified.