WATCH: London train driver leads ‘free Palestine’ chant on intercom, gets suspended

A metro train driver in London has been suspended for apparently leading passengers in the packed carriage in a chat of “free, free Palestine”. Transport for London (TfL), which runs the metro network, in a statement said that the train driver has been temporarily removed from duty pending further investigation. In the video that has gone viral, the driver of the London’s underground can be heard saying “free, free” over the train’s intercom system. The passengers in a packed metro are then seen responding by shouting “Palestine”. The chant is popular at protests in solidarity with Palestinians. On Saturday, nearly 100,000 protesters took part in a pro-Palestinian demonstration in the British capital.

An urgent and thorough investigation has been initiated, Glynn Barton, TfL’s chief operating officer said. “We have been urgently and thoroughly investigating the footage appearing to show a Tube driver misusing the PA system and leading chants on a Central line train on Saturday,” Barton said. “A driver has now been identified and suspended whilst we continue to fully investigate the incident in line with our policies and procedures," the TfL’s chief operating officer said. Israel’s embassy in Britain said it was “deeply troubling to see such intolerance” on London’s underground. With inputs from agencies