On Friday 28 March, a peaceful protest organised by Edinburgh University Justice for Palestine (EUJPS) was disrupted by a member of the public wielding a box knife.
EUJPS have accused the individual of chanting “f**k Palestine”, calling the speakers “terrorists”, and performing Sieg Heil (Nazi) salutes, before slashing a students’s cheek.
Those present say the aggressive behaviour was exerted towards those from ethnic minority groups.
The member of the public was removed from the vicinity by protesters.
EUJPS say that members of the security team were told about the presence of the agitator and that he was seen carrying a weapon, but that they replied, “It doesn’t matter what you think you saw.”
A video published on EUJPS’ Instagram page shows a member of the security team saying he couldn’t intervene without permission from his line manager.
In a statement shared with The Student, EUJPS said: “This traumatising incident comes after the University has repeatedly called pro-Palestine protests ‘threatening.’
“Security’s apathy to violence in the context of student protests is unfortunately not new, recalling the incident in which two students were attacked during the encampment in plain view of security officers.”
In response, a University of Edinburgh spokesperson told The Student: “We are aware of the incident, which is now a matter for the Police. We are working with them to assist with their enquiries and will provide support to anyone in our community affected.
“Safety on our campus is our utmost priority, and we have experienced teams in place to ensure the welfare of our community. We also have close and regular contact with Police Scotland and a wide range of other groups to implement measures that safeguard our community’s wellbeing.
“Members of our security team are always on duty across campus and attend events including protests as a matter of routine. Team members were present at Friday’s protest and provided immediate support to those affected during and after the incident.”
Image provided by EUJPS