Met urge students to call off October 7 protests - and vow to take robust stance on 'a day of mourning and reflection' - but can't find the organisers involved

Police have urged students to call off a pro-Palestinian protest planned for the third anniversary of the October 7 atrocity, saying it is not 'the right day to be holding that event'.Officers have vowed to take a 'robust' stance on 'a day of mourning and a day of reflection' in the event that students decide to ignore their plea and take to the streets of central London on Wednesday.The protest is being advertised on social media by student activists, who say they intend to 'take to the street' to 'demand an end to the Palestinian genocide'. The Met admitted it 'sounds incredible' but attempts to find someone willing to take responsibility for the march to date have failed, despite significant efforts.James Harman, the Met's Deputy Assistant Commissioner for operations, said: 'Serious concerns have been expressed about the impact of this march on students and staff, particularly those who are Jewish, the route, and of course the very specific day on which it is being held.'We, the Met, have attempted to find and contact the student organisers to ask them to very carefully consider the impact their event will have, and to ask them to hold this event on a different day.'Finding the organisers, frankly, has so far proved difficult. So I use this opportunity today to urge them to reconsider and to make contact with us urgently, so they can plan their events on a different date.'He asked the estimated 300 students planning to march to 'reflect on the impact and distress it will cause on this very significant day, and exercise your right to protest on a different date'. Pro-Palestine protesters gather outside King's College London on October 7 2025, the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Nova Festival in Israel and subsequent attacks on Gaza by Israel.The plans have already been condemned by Jewish organisations and senior politicians.DAC Harman said: 'I don't think it is the right day to be holding that event.'If it goes ahead, it is not because the Met have permitted it. We will have to police it.'He said the march, along with another pro-Palestinian protest planned for Saturday, October 10, and possible disorder ahead of the Holborn and St Pancras by-election next week, has the potential 'to fuel further tensions' in London.It comes amid reports of altercations last weekend during canvassing for Sir Keir Starmer's seat.DAC Harman said: 'We have absolutely no desire to get involved in politics. We have absolutely no desire to take sides in culture wars or wars of words between opposing groups.'That is very clearly not our role.'But the Met absolutely has a role - and policing has a role - when it comes to preventing serious disorder, violence, and hate crime, and we will be robust in doing so.' Students marched from King's College and stopped at various campuses along the way, calling for an end to genocide in Gaza Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner James HarmanOn Wednesday, hundreds of students plan to march between four London universities on the third anniversary of the atrocity in which Hamas militants murdered more than 1,200 civilians and took 251 hostages.The protest is being advertised on social media by student activists, who say they intend to 'take to the street' to 'demand an end to the Palestinian genocide'.The Met said they are 'making every effort' through universities and others to identify organisers of the shadowy University of London Coalition responsible for advertising the event.DAC Harman said: 'We have found people who are attending, but they are not willing to take responsibility as the organiser of the event. I know it sounds incredible.'Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, condemned all those marching on October 7.She said: 'Those planning public demonstrations on this day know exactly what October 7 represents.'They know of the savagery, the sexual violence, the murder and kidnapping committed by Hamas, yet they still choose this date.'This is a disgusting attack on the memory of the victims of Hamas and those still grieving, carrying the pain and trauma this anniversary brings.'Raphi Leon, president of the Union of Jewish Students, said holding a protest on a day of mourning for Israeli families was 'outrageous'.He said: 'There are 365 days of the year. The decision to protest on this day is provocative, deliberate and must be condemned to the fullest extent.'Meanwhile, Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: 'We certainly shouldn't be doing anything other than marking those attacks on October 7 with deep mourning for those who lost their lives and those who were victims of that terrible Hamas attack.'A similar march held on the second anniversary was described by then-Prime Minister Sir Keir as 'un-British'.He urged students to call off their action and accused participants of showing a lack of respect but to no avail.The students plan to march from King's College London, before heading to the London School of Economics, the School of Oriental and African Studies, and ending at University College London.Israel has been accused of 'genocide' over the thousands killed in its retaliatory bombing campaign in Gaza.Antisemitic attacks have increased across places of worship, universities and wider society in the three years since October 7.