BICOM raided by pro-Palestinian protesters

by Erica Morris - Wednesday 14th January 2009


The office of the Israel advocacy organisation BICOM was raided on Tuesday morning by pro-Palestinian protesters, adding to the growing number of anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic attacks in the wake of the Gaza conflict.

The Community Security Trust is already reporting that the past few weeks have seen highest rate of incidents in one month since records began.

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The BICOM raid took place at around 11.30am on Tuesday, when between nine and 10 protesters entered the centre's offices in Central London, shouting at alarmed workers and super gluing pictures of Gaza victims onto computers.

The activists left after security had been alerted, having caused damage to a number of PCs, telephones and possibly the IT network.

The CST has since stepped up security at the centre.

A BICOM spokesperson told the Jewish News employees were undeterred from returning to work, saying: "We're confident that we're providing a vital and necessary function to the community, and we will continue to do so."

BICOM CEO Lorna Fitzsimons said: "BICOM is a pro-peace organisation that promotes understanding and dialogue, often promoting moderate Palestinian voices for the sake of a speedy and peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.

"Britain has a long tradition of debate and free speech. The
violent attack against us today goes against all of that and does
nothing for the people they claim to care about."

She added: "The vandalism and thuggery at our offices and against my staff
[on Tuesday] was totally and utterly reprehensible.

"We will continue our work at this important time to engage
journalists and other opinion formers in events in the Middle East to
show them that it is a far more difficult and complex situation than the
vandals today like to pretend it is."

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