Lib Dem Mayor of Bath is suspended for sharing post claiming Golders Green arson attack on Jewish ambulances was 'Israeli false flag operation'
The Mayor of Bath has been suspended by the Liberal Democrats after he shared a post on social media which claimed the attack on a Jewish ambulance service in Golders Green was an 'Israeli false flag' operation.
Dr Bharat Pankhania, who is also a Senior Clinical Lecturer at University of Exeter Medical School, reposted a series of claims about the arson attack on his personal X account.
These included the 'false flag' post and two others which suggested the incident was insurance fraud.
Two British men, aged 47 and 45, were yesterday arrested over the attack by detectives from counter-terror police. They have since been bailed.
The London Fire Brigade rushed to Highfield Road in the early hours of Monday morning after four Hatzola ambulances were set alight outside a synagogue.
The vehicles were gutted as the blaze took hold, with explosions caused by oxygen tanks stored on board leading to the evacuation of nearby homes as a precaution. No-one was injured in the fire.
A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats told the Daily Mail Dr Pankhania has been suspended.
They said: 'Dr. Pankhania has been suspended from the Liberal Democrat group while the party looks into this.
'We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community following the appalling arson attack earlier this week.'
Liberal Democrat Dr Bharat Pankhania, who is also a Senior Clinical Lecturer at University of Exeter Medical School, reposted a series of claims about the arson attack on his personal X account
The London Fire Brigade rushed to Highfield Road in the early hours of Monday morning after four Hatzola ambulances were set alight outside a synagogue
It is understood the suspension refers to him sitting as a Liberal Democrat, rather than a suspension from the mayoralty itself.
Dr Pankhania has now deleted his social media posts and apologised, saying he had been 'made aware' that he had reposted the 'abhorrent' claims.
He said in a statement: 'I have been made aware that I have reposted or replied to some posts which have never aligned to my values and beliefs, and which are abhorrent.
'I am incredibly apologetic that I have not lived up to the standards I set myself.
'I have of course deleted them, and I wish to apologise unreservedly.'
One of the posts shared by the mayor referred to the attack as a 'false flag' operation, adding, 'People are now asking why do the Jewish community have their own private ambulances in the UK?', SomersetLive reports.
Hatzola is a voluntary community organisation which helps transport patients in desperate need of care. Although set up by the Jewish community, it serves anyone who needs it, regardless of their faith or cultural background.
It also has bases in Manchester, Gateshead, Canvey Island and Hertfordshire.
Dr Pankhania, who has been a Bath and North East Somerset councillor since 2019, qualified from the Welsh Nation Schools of Medicine in Cardiff and trained as a GP in 1989. He now specialises in disease control.
The two British nationals were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.
Two properties were search in the Kilburn and Kings Cross areas, where they were detained, with two further homes also being searched by police in north-west London.
Four ambulances from Hatzola were set on fire during the incident at about 1.35am on Monday
The attack is currently being treated as an anti-Semitic hate crime by police, but not a terror attack.
Both men have since been released on bail until a date in April.
Commander Helen Flanagan of Counter Terrorism Policing London said: 'Although the two men have been released from police custody, there are strict bail conditions in place while we continue to investigate their suspected involvement in this incident.
'I can reassure the public that we will be closely monitoring these while we carry out further enquiries. We continue to work to try and identify all of those involved in this appalling attack and the investigation team is working around the clock to do this.
'I'd like to thank the public and particularly the local Jewish community in the area for their continued support and reiterate our appeal to anyone who might have information that could assist with the investigation to get in touch with us.'
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to call police on 101 providing the reference 415 of March 23.
Alternatively, people can call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Bath and North East Somerset Council has been contacted for comment.
