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

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has suggested he retweeted “inaccurate” criticism of police officers responding to the Golders Green terror attack because he was “traumatised”.

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

He also said he remained “concerned” about the officers’ actions, adding that everyone who works in public service “should not be above scrutiny”, and that actions must be “proportionate, no matter how brave”.

Mr Polanski apologised last week after sharing a post on X that accused Met officers of detaining the Golders Green attack suspect of “repeatedly and violently kicking a mentally ill man in the head” when he was already incapacitated from being Tasered.

Sir Keir Starmer was among those who lined up to condemn Mr Polanski, calling his actions “disgraceful” and saying he was “not fit to lead any political party”.

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

“And I also found the video that was circulating online traumatic, too,” he added. “I accept, though, that conversation about that video needs to be had with the [police] commissioner rather than on X.”

Sky News presenter Trevor Phillips then asked: “You made a mistake presumably because you were traumatised, then?” Mr Polanski replied: “Well, you generally apologise when you make mistakes… it should be something I take directly to the commissioner and I accept that.”

But he also accused Sir Mark of airing his concerns in the wrong way. “Open letters aren’t an appropriate way to do politics either in a local election… and I’ll be having that conversation with the commissioner,” Mr Polanski said.

Later, during an interview on the BBC, Mr Polanski suggested he remains concerned about the officers’ actions. He told Laura Kuenssberg: “I was very concerned by what I saw, and I remain concerned.”

On the same programme, transport secretary Heidi Alexander called his actions “abhorrent”. Labour minister Steve Reed added: “Polanski’s apology clearly means nothing given he continues to denigrate the actions of our brave police officers.”

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

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

The Green Party’s Welsh leader, Anthony Slaughter, told LBC that while he had not seen the tweet: “It does seem, from what I’ve read, [it] was inappropriate to retweet.”

The party’s deputy leader, Rachel Millward, who was also challenged about the post, told the BBC’s Question Time programme on Thursday that she was “extremely grateful” for the emergency service response.

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

Sir Mark said in his letter to Mr Polanski that he was “disappointed” in the politician’s decision to share the post, warning that it could have a “chilling effect”.

He said officers were “nothing short of extraordinary”, adding: “Without their efforts to stop him, I dread to think what the outcome could have been.”