Polanski suggests he shared ‘inaccurate’ criticism of Golders Green officers because he was traumatised

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has claimed he retweeted “incorrect” criticism of police officers who responded to the Golders Green terror attack because he was “traumatized” by it.

But he also reignited his row with the Metropolitan Police Chief Sir Mark Rowley over the post, claiming Sir Mark’s open letter condemning Mr Polanski was inappropriate during the election campaign.

Mr Polanski apologized last week for sharing the post about X after coming under fire from Sir Mark and politicians from across the political spectrum.

Sir Keir Starmer was among those lining up to condemn Mr Polanski, describing his actions as “disgraceful” and saying he was “unfit to lead any political party”.

The row began when Mr Polanski retweeted an X post by Met officers accusing the suspect of “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head”.

Asked why he shared the post on Sky News on Sunday, the Green Party leader said he found the attack “very traumatic, especially as a Jew”.

“I also found the video circulating online traumatic,” he added. “However, I accept that the conversation about this video should have been with the (police) commissioner rather than X.”

Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips then asked: “You probably made a mistake because you were traumatised, then?” Mr Polanski replied: “Well, usually when you make a mistake we apologize… that would have to be something I would have to take up directly with the commissioner and I accept that.”

But he also said: “Open letters are not an appropriate way of doing politics in local elections either… and I will have this conversation with the commissioner.”

On the same programme, transport minister Heidi Alexander also described his actions as “disgusting”.

In a rare intervention last week, Sir Mark lashed out at Mr Polanski for sharing the “wrong” post and later accused him of “undermining” the power.

Mr. Polanski also faced significant backlash within his own party.

Anthony Slaughter, the Green Party’s leader in Wales, told LBC he had not seen the tweet: “From what I’ve read it seems [it] It was inappropriate to retweet.”

Rachel Millward, the party’s deputy leader who has been criticized over the post, told the BBC’s Question Time on Thursday that she was “extremely grateful” for the emergency service response.

“I’m sure it was beyond terrifying and these people are brave, they’re well-trained in what they do, I’m sure they did a great job,” he said.

In his letter to Polanski, Sir Mark stated that he was “disappointed” by the politician’s decision to share the post and warned that it could have a “chilling effect”.

He said the police officers were “nothing short of outstanding” and added: “Without their efforts to stop him, I dread to think what the outcome might have been.”