The Met's Deputy Commissioner has penned an open letter of support to London's Jewish communities following recent terrorist attacks in southern Israel.

In the letter, Dame Lynne Owens acknowledged the Jewish community's strong early stand with the police following the 2017 terrorist attacks in the UK.

Owens also recalls acts of kindness during the Manchester Arena attack, where a rabbi provided hot drinks to on-duty officers.

Turning the focus to the current situation, she underlined the Met's solidarity with the Jewish community.

She said: "Nobody can fail to have been absolutely appalled by the acts of terrorism we saw in Israel on Saturday.

"The murder of more than 900 people and the kidnapping of so many others – including children and the elderly – must be condemned in the strongest terms."

Pledging firm support to London's Jewish community, including the Jewish Met staff, Dame Owens outlined the unit's commitment to ensuring their safety at home.

She acknowledged the distress faced by those with loved ones in Israel, affirming the Met's readiness to support investigations and assist with getting Britons home, if requested by the Government.

She also reassured families adding: "Nobody should be worried about their child's journey to school, their safety on a bus or a train, their visit to the shops, or to a place of worship."

The Met is working with community leaders and Jewish security group the Community Security Trust to enhance its presence at schools and synagogues and in communities.

Neighbourhood policing teams and dedicated schools officers will offer support and investigate any instances of antisemitic hate or harassment.

The Deputy Commissioner highlighted the "morally reprehensible" tension in the aftermath of the terror attacks, where people gathered outside the Israeli Embassy waving flags, chanting and letting off flares in support for the terrorists.

She said that support for Hamas or Hezbollah, both proscribed terrorist organisations under UK law, will not go unaddressed.

While expressing support for the Palestinian cause is not a criminal offence, associating it with support for terrorist groups will be legally addressed.

She said: "What we cannot do is interpret support for the Palestinian cause more broadly as automatically being support for Hamas or any other proscribed group, even when it follows so soon after an attack carried out by that group and when to many the link seems indisputable."

Antisemitic or hate-motivated abuse or intimidation at protests will not be tolerated.

The Deputy Commissioner concluded with a promise to the Jewish community: "We will act swiftly where people break the law and we will do everything in our power to protect you and to make you feel safe."