On Saturday Sept 20, one of the organisers of the Tottenham Palestine Literature Festival was attacked on the stage during the opening session of the day as it was being addressed by former BBC journalist Tim Llewelyn. Details of the festival are available here. http://www.hjfp.org.uk/wordpress/tottenham-palestine-literature-festival/The principal victim of the attack was hospitalised briefly and intends to press charges. He has asked not to be named in this report. His only concern is that organisers of other peaceful events showcasing the Palestinian narrative should be warned of the dangers of such attacks and that leaders of the Jewish community should distance themselves from such disruptive actions. He is referred to here as Organiser A. Shortly after 10.30 a.m. a man disrupted the proceedings by getting onto the stage and holding up signs and shouting slogans. His intention was unclear to the audience at the time but it emerged later that he and a number of others had planned an attack on former Liberal Democrat peer, Baroness Jenny Tonge. She had been scheduled to appear but had to cancel due to a misunderstanding over travel arrangements. This information was available online but the disrupters were unaware of the change. The organisers tried to persuade the man to desist from disrupting the event but he refused. He was identified by members of the audience as an Iranian or Iraqi who regularly disrupts Palestinian events claiming to represent Arabs who support Israel. He and others were caught on video (attached) tearing down the event banner at the back of the stage. While an altercation was going on, a tall man with a ponytail, identified as Joel Yossi, a far-right extremist associated with the “Jewish Defence League” approached Organiser A who had been attempting to chair the session and hit him in the temple, stunning him and knocking off his glasses. As other people gathered round to try and resolve the situation a woman later identified as Roberta Moore, founder of the “Jewish Section” of the English Defence League, sprayed red liquid into Organiser A’s face. It was the kind of liquid women can use to mark an attacker. Fortunately, Organiser A blinked at the opportune moment and only his skin and eyelids were marked. Nevertheless he was sent to hospital because of the wound to the side of his face. Moore was apprehended by one of the organisers and police later interviewed all concerned. She made no attempt to escape or hide the evidence of her attack. Some audience members were under the impression that another individual had driven away from the scene. Apart from Yossi and Moore who took part in the physical attack, Sharon Klaff, another JDL member also took part in the disruption. Another individual, 30-ish, about 5ft 6ins, wearing a Timberland T-shirt, justified the attack on behalf of Yossi and Moore, representing them to the police.

Police said later that Moore was on bail for some other, unconnected offence. She has been ordered not to approach Organiser A nor any Haringey Friends of Palestine event.