Authorities confiscated firearms and ammunition from the residence of anti-Israeli demonstrator Sam Williams earlier today.
Two police officers in uniform arrived at the serene cul-de-sac in Pembury, Tunbridge Wells, around midday.
They were soon joined by a female forensic specialist who arrived separately in a police van, donning a face mask as she entered the home.
Shortly thereafter, a male officer was photographed removing clear plastic bags containing what looked like shotgun shells.
Subsequently, he retrieved multiple boxes marked with “High Pheasant cartridges”—known to be hunting ammunition—and loaded them into the trunk of a police vehicle.
Not long after, the officer emerged again, this time carrying what seemed to be several rifles or shotguns encased in bags, which were also placed into the vehicle’s trunk.
There is no suggestion any of the weapons were not legally owned. The family home is close to woodland and countryside.
Items appearing to be firearms were removed from the family home of Sam Williams, the Oxford University student at the centre of a row over his chanting video
A police forensics van outside the family home today. There is no suggestion any of the firearms equipment taken away by police were not held entirely legally
An officer carried out several boxes labelled High Pheasant cartridges – a type of hunting ammunition – and placed them in the boot of a marked police car
Other items were seized from the house and removed in forensic boxes.
One neighbour said: ‘It’s a bit worrying there were shotguns and ammunition in the house. They may be legally owned by we didn’t know they went hunting.
‘Obviously the police have got a job to do but, as far as we’re concerned, it adds a layer of extra worry to it all.’
Mr Williams, 20, was arrested after being filmed chanting ‘put the Zios in the ground’ at a pro-Palestine protest. He was also suspended by Oxford University.
‘Zio’ is an offensive reference to Zionists, and some have interpreted the words as calling for death to Jews, after the Palestine Coalition demonstration on Saturday.
Three police forces have been involved in the investigation. The Metropolitan Police is leading the probe, and said: ‘A 20-year-old man was at an address in Oxfordshire on Wednesday, 15 October, on suspicion of inciting racial hatred. He has been released on bail.’
He was held for questioning at an Oxfordshire police station for most of Wednesday before being released. He has not been charged with any offence, and his whereabouts today were unknown.
Mr Williams’ family home in Pembury was the scene of activity carried out by Kent Police.
The philosophy, politics and economics student at Balliol College has also been suspended by Oxford University.
The chants were filmed on the the day after ceasefire came into effect in Gaza.
Speaking through a microphone at the march, Mr Williams told the crowd: ‘A steadfast and noble resistance in Palestine and in Gaza to look to, to be inspired by and – I don’t want to yap for too long – but a chant that we’ve been workshopping in Oxford that maybe you guys want to join in.
‘It goes ‘Gaza, Gaza make us proud, put the Zios in the ground’.’
Samuel Williams led the chants at a pro-Palestine demonstration in Central London on Saturday
Mr Williams was among dozens of students who camped outside the Natural History Museum in Oxford to protest their university’s alleged complicity in Israel’s war against Hamas
Pictures from Mr Williams’s Instagram page show him sporting a red and white keffiyeh scarf
Police outside the home of Mr Williams in a leafy cul-de-sac in Kent
A specialist forensics officer and a uniformed colleague take away items from the family home
Items including what appear to be firearms were taken away
Several rifles or shotguns were removed by officers. There is no suggestion they were not being held legally and securely
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said last week that there had been an ‘unacceptable increase in anti-Semitism’ at universities and added that many Jewish students did not feel safe on campus.
She called on universities to strengthen protections for Jewish students and said the Government was funding training to help staff and students ‘tackle this poison of anti-Semitism’.
Other online footage from the rally showed Mr Williams near the front of a group of protesters who were holding signs bearing messages including ‘Oxford University pick a side, justice or genocide’.
A spokesman for Oxford University said: ‘The University of Oxford condemns, in the strongest possible terms, any language urging violence against groups of people or expressing any form of racial hatred.
‘The university’s support for freedom of speech does not extend to any statements, including such language.
‘When such language is reported, we will always want to speak to the student concerned and consider the matter under our disciplinary procedures in line with university and college policies.
‘Oxford is unequivocal – there is no place for anti-Semitism, harassment, or discrimination within our community. We remain firmly committed to protecting the safety and dignity of all our students and staff.’
A spokesman for the Union of Jewish Students said: ‘The Union of Jewish Students welcomes the news that decisive action has been taken against a University of Oxford student who called to ‘put the Zios in the ground’.
Since joining the university he has dedicated his life not to his studies but to student activism
Mr Williams previously attended the Bennett Memorial Diocesan school in Tunbridge Wells
Mr Williams was one of a number of students to have attended the pro-Palestine event
‘Jewish students should never have to stand by as their peers glorify terrorism or incite hatred.
‘Universities around the country should take note of this swift action. Institutions must end the culture of impunity that has allowed antisemitism to go unchecked on campus and take a firm, consistent stand against the glorification of terror.’
It comes after the Mail found Mr Williams, whose family home is in a middle class area in Tunbridge Wells, is a veteran pro-Palestine protester.
Before winning a coveted place at Oxford, Mr Williams attended the Bennett Memorial Diocesan school in Tunbridge Wells.
Pictures from Mr Williams’s Instagram account show him regularly sporting a red and white keffiyeh scarf.
A keffiyeh is a type of Arabic accessory which has recently become associated with the pro-Palestine movement.
And since joining the university he has dedicated his life not to his studies but to student activism and Palestine.
Several pictures taken from his Instagram account show Mr Williams’s participating in the highly controversial Oxford University student encampments.
Mr Williams was among dozens of students who occupied and camped outside the Oxford Natural History Museum to protest against their university’s alleged complicity in Israel’s war against Hamas.
Another social media post captioned ‘f*** your exams 2024, anti-colonial action’ includes a picture of Mr Williams and a female friend participating in a pro-Palestine protest.
‘Zio’ is a slur made by shortening the word ‘Zionist’ and is often directed towards Jewish people.
