ATTEMPTS to connect the series of “horrific” anti-semitic attacks in north London with the marches in solidarity with Palestine “are false,” anti-war campaigners say.

It comes as it was revealed that the man suspected of carrying out the knife attack in north London this week was previously referred to the government’s counter-extremism programme.

The 45-year-old was born in Somalia and came to Britain legally as a child in the 1990s.

The Metropolitan Police said he was known to Prevent and that a referral had been made in 2020, which was closed in the same year.

The so-called independent reviewer of terrorism legislation (the position is appointed by the Home Secretary and Treasury) Jonathan Hall KC and others have claimed that marches against the Israeli government’s genocide in Gaza increase anti-semitism, with Mr Hall saying they should be subject to a moratorium.

But Stop the War Coalition said this was “unacceptable,” saying: “We condemn unequivocally these attacks, as we do all forms of anti-semitism and racism.

“The attempts by Mr Hall, sections of the media and some politicians to connect such attacks with the Palestine marches are wrong.

“[Our marches] are in protest at the role of the Israeli government, and the complicity of the British government in these attacks.”

The group said the marches are supported by many Jewish people who attend, adding: “They are not the ‘hate marches’ described by right-wing politicians but expressions of solidarity and support for those under attack.

“The aims to criminalise the protests, which reflect majority public opinion in this country, or worse to connect them with racist or terrorist attacks being carried out against Jewish people, are scurrilous and should be rejected.

“They appear to be part of a wider agenda to clamp down on protest more generally, and to limit our rights.

“In a democracy, we have the right to peaceful protest and we will continue to exercise it. We will be marching on May 16 for the Nakba.”