Grenfell volunteer said fire was a ‘Jewish sacrifice’ to claim insurance money

A charity volunteer who worked with the victims of the Grenfell fire claimed the blaze was a ‘Jewish sacrifice’, a court heard.

Tahra Ahmed, 51, published two anti semitic posts to her Facebook account between 26 January 2016 and 26 January 2018, the Old Bailey heard.

The first was on 18 June 2017, four days after the fire which claimed 72 people lives.

It included a link to a video of the Grenfell tragedy which was later removed from the internet.

Ahmed stated: ‘I’ve been at the scene, at the protest and at the community meetings and have met many of the victims…some who were still in the same clothes they escaped in.

‘They are very real and genuine [sic], their pain and suffering is raw and deep and their disgusting neglect by authorities continues.

‘Watch the footage of people trapped in the inferno with flames behind them. They were burnt alive in a Jewish sacrifice.

‘Grenfell is owned by a private Jewish property developer just like the twin towers was owned by Jew Silverstein who collected trillions in insurance claims.

‘I wonder how much Goldman is standing to make in the world’s most expensive real estate location.’

The second post, which is likely to have been published on 26 January 2017, was published on a Facebook group with over 55,000 members.

It says: ‘Jews have always been the ones behind ritual torture, crucifixion and murder of children, especially young boys, as a way of atoning for their sins in order to be allowed back into Palestine.

‘Here is a very brief history of these crimes they committed in Britain over the centuries.’

The post contains a link to an article called ‘Jewish Settlement, Ritual Murder’ by Geoffrey H Smith.

Both posts were published by Ahmed in her name, the court heard.

Prosecutor Benjamin Newton said: ‘The Crown’s case is that both of the articles that Ms Ahmed published were virulently anti-semitic and significantly crossed the line as to what is acceptable in a liberal democracy.’

The police investigation began following the publication of an article in the Times newspaper in December 2017 about people such as Ahmed who attended public meetings following the Grenfell fire.

Attention was drawn to her, as well as the first Facebook post, leading to mounting complaints against Ahmed.

The police discovered a history of anti-semitic comments and the promotion of various conspiracy theories on her Facebook account.

Prosecutor Benjamin Newton said: ‘Whilst it is clear from her Facebook posts that Ms Ahmed had strongly held beliefs, the posts are clear demonstrations of racial hatred.

‘Looking at the language of the posts, the crude racial stereotyping and the insulting tone, the Crown say that you can infer that she posted them intending to stir up racial hatred and that racial hatred was likely to be stirred up.’

A supporter of Ahmed stood up in the public gallery before the trial began and Judge Mark Dennis had to tell the person to sit down.

He said: ‘You either sit down or you leave the gallery, that’s a final warning. Do you understand?’

The charges allege Ahmed posted material which was ‘threatening, abusive or insulting intending thereby to stir up racial hatred or, having regard to all the circumstances, whereby racial hatred was likely to be stirred up.’

Ahmed appeared in court wearing a pink blazer, formal black trousers and heeled boots.

She was permitted to sit at the back of the court and was granted bail ahead of and during the trial.

Ahmed, of Lansdowne Road, Tottenham, is facing two counts of stirring up racial hatred by publishing written material.

The trial continues.