A newly opened Gail’s bakery in Brixton has become the focus of an anti-Israel protest, with campaign posters depicting loaves of bread secured to bomb-like explosives.

The premium bakery chain opened its south London branch last Friday, but its arrival has prompted opposition on two fronts: activists’ claims about alleged links to Israel’s war in Gaza and concerns over the gentrification of Brixton.

Large adverts placed near Brixton Market call for a boycott of the business. One image shows a Gail’s loaf strapped to what appears to be an explosive device.

The protest follows similar incidents at other Gail’s locations, including the chain’s Archway branch in north London, which was vandalised by pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism has condemned the Brixton posters, saying they form part of a wider pattern of attacks on Gail’s. The company has denied having links to Israel.

Activists have repeatedly criticised Gail’s over claims that its biggest shareholder, Bain Capital, holds investments in Israeli defence and cyber-security companies. They argue this amounts to complicity in Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, although Gail’s rejects the allegation.

The Brixton campaign was organised by Strapline, which is urging members of the public to avoid Gail’s and oppose the bakery’s presence in the neighbourhood.

The posters carry slogans including “A rising threat” and “Avoid Gail’s”, while linking the bakery to what the campaigners describe as “the genocidal state of Israel”.

The accompanying message accuses Gail’s of being part of “aggressive corporate expansion” that campaigners say damages established local communities.

Strapline also presents the bakery’s arrival as an example of what it calls the latest phase of “late-stage gentrification” in Brixton.

A spokesman for the Campaign Against Antisemitism told the Daily Mail: “Targeting a bakery because of perceived associations is collective punishment dressed up as virtue.

“Palestine activists have been targeting branches of Gail’s for a long time now – sometimes violently.

“The association of the bakery with Jews, Israel and rapacious capitalism is a classic trope. The police should monitor this situation before it escalates.”

The posters have also drawn criticism online, with several social media users saying the campaign had made them more inclined to visit Gail’s rather than boycott it.

One X user described the protest as “pathetic”, writing: “Anything that tidies up the area around the Tube is to be welcomed. I am not a fan of Gail’s but I will be going in for a coffee next time I am in Brixton.”

Another questioned the campaign’s impact, asking: “Why on earth would anyone wish a business to fail, employing local folk?”

A further commenter argued that singling out Gail’s over the investment choices of its backers was inconsistent, saying many other nearby chains have investors with interests in Israel as well.

Gail’s is based on a firm founded in 1993 by British-Israeli baker Gail Mejia before Israeli entrepreneur Ran Avidan led its expansion from 2005 onwards, opening its first branch in nearby Hampstead, though neither remain involved with the business.

In 2021, with Gail’s valued at £200million, Boston-based private investment fund Bain Capital acquired a majority stake in the business that now has 170 outlets across the UK.

Gail’s branches have been targeted by anti-Israel activists, with the Archway outlet targeted for a second time last February by pro-Palestine vandals who smashed windows and painted anti-Zionist graffiti. 

The coffee shop’s windows were smashed and messages daubed in red paint including ‘Reject corporate Zionism’ and ‘support local business’.

The word ‘boycott’ was painted above the bakery’s logo and an anarchist symbol was drawn near the door.

The business says it has ‘no links with any country or government outside the UK’ and its chief executive has branded the campaign against it ‘completely unacceptable’.

Activist group Strapline has shared video footage on Instagram of the Brixton posters being pasted up close to the new opening next to Brixton Tube station.

The accompanying caption states: ‘Maybe it’s their extortionate prices, or their algorithmically-driven predatory growth model, or it could be the fact that Bain Capital, its owners, have significant investments in the State of Isr*el.

‘Or it could just be the fact that I’m bored of bland coffee shops dominating our urban landscape.

‘Either way, late-stage gentrification has hit Brixton, or maybe it already had. It’s easy to lose track.

‘Love bread, bun Gail’s. Instead why not support local businesses.’

Strapline said in a statement to Brixton Buzz: ‘We want to draw attention to the damage being caused by Gail’s bakeries across London through a capital-driven ownership which prioritises aggressive corporate expansion into our local communities.’

They also alleged Gail’s was ‘also maintaining significant ties to the genocidal State of Israel through investments into Israeli cybersecurity and defence firms’.

The approach has provoked criticism, with one online commenter saying, ‘Sounds rather anti-Semitic to me. I’ll be off to Gail’s’ – prompting Strapline to reply: ‘You do that x.’

Other Instagram posters were more supportive, with replies such as ‘Top notch’ and ‘I’ve been avoiding Gail’s since they sold out.’

Another said: ‘Brixton has fallen.’

Gail’s owners have previously hit back at claims that the company ‘funds Israel’ and say calls to boycott the chain are derived from misinformation.

A spokesman told The Guardian in 2024: ‘Gail’s is a UK-based business with no specific connections to any country or government outside of the UK and does not fund Israel.’

Meanwhile, co-founder and chief executive Mr Molnar told the Times previously: ‘Gail’s proudly has Jewish roots and there’s plenty of stuff out there celebrating our heritage and history, but it’s not true it’s Israel-owned.’

‘There’s some just crazy stuff on the web thinking we are funding Israel, which is just completely ridiculous.

‘We’re a wholly UK-based business, paying UK taxes, it’s just ludicrous and I think it needs to be called out.’

Gail’s has been contacted for comment. 

A Change.org petition opposed to the new Gail’s in Brixton attracted 1,321 signatures but planning permission was granted last month by Lambeth Council.

The petition’s organisers said online: ‘The proposed development of a Gail’s Bakery branch in Brixton is causing genuine concern among residents and local business owners.

‘Many fear that the introduction of another large chain bakery will not only disrupt the distinctive character of our area but also directly threaten the livelihoods of our cherished local bakers and café owners.

‘Independent businesses in Brixton have thrived on community support, offering personal attention and unique experiences that large chains simply cannot replicate.

‘This petition is not against bakeries or new investment in Brixton. Rather, it is a call to protect the area’s independent spirit and ensure that development supports local entrepreneurs and preserves the distinct identity of the neighbourhood.’

Gail’s says the new Brixton opening will bring 15 to 20 new jobs to the area and bring back into use a space lying empty since autumn last year, with the previous occupant being noodle bar Chopstix.

A spokesman said: ‘We are a British bakery born and bred in London and believe that a healthy high street is a diverse one made up of many different businesses, from many different backgrounds, each playing its part.

‘Our scale is a force for good – using growth to support exceptional farmers and producers, strengthen local food economies and help build a more resilient food system.

‘We know Brixton has a strong sense of community and a brilliant mix of independent businesses, and we appreciate how much that means to local people.’

Other areas where there has been opposition to new Gail’s branches have included nearby Crystal Palace and Walthamstow in north-east London – with critics warning about potential negative effects on local independent bakeries.

The baker chain was originally a wholesaler called The Bread Factory founded by Gail Mejia in 1993, supplying artisanal bread and cakes to restaurants and hotels from a site in Hendon, north London.

Tom Molnar and Ran Avidan, two business leaders working at one of the world’s biggest consultancy firms McKinsey, bought half the company in 2003 and two years later opened a first branch in Hampstead, in the London borough of Camden.

Gail’s is currently owned by Pizza Express entrepreneur Luke Johnson and American investment firm Bain Capital.

Bain was among 500 other venture capital firms that signed a letter in support of Israel following the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, and it has investments in Israel including in AI, cyber-security and software companies.

An eyewitness who had a front-row view of Taylor Swift’s interaction with a fan has shared new details about what happened during Sunday’s Chiefs game.

Swift, 36, made her way to Arrowhead Stadium less than 24 hours after attracting attention at the Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles.

The pop star was seated in a suite supporting her husband, Travis Kelce, when her view was disrupted by a fan standing in front of the luxury box with a phone camera pointed toward her.

After noticing that the woman appeared to be filming or photographing her, Swift seemed to gesture for her to stop and turn her attention back to the game.

A member of Swift’s security team, seated a few places away, then approached the woman and appeared to tell her to turn around and put her phone away.

Two days after the incident, a self-proclaimed Swiftie who watched the exchange unfold in person revealed details that were not captured in the viral footage.

Podcast host Ashlie Molstad told the Daily Mail that she and a friend had arrived at their seats 45 minutes before kickoff.

People who had gathered in the section were beginning to leave when the woman at the center of the viral moment suddenly appeared.

“I assume she was in a nearby section. All of a sudden, she was right in our space,” Molstad recalled. “We were in the fifth seat in, so she had crossed over four people. Next thing I knew, she was right next to me shouting Taylor’s name.”

Although Molstad could not initially see Swift because her view was blocked, she did see the singer’s security guard respond.

“He immediately stepped in and told her, ‘These are not your seats. You need to leave,’” Molstad said.

“She replied, ‘Well, I came a long way. I’ve come all the way from Germany,’ and she was dressed in her Oktoberfest regalia. He repeated that the seats were not hers and that she had to go.”

“She then held up her phone to sneak a quick picture, and he put his hand up to block the camera. At the time, I didn’t hear Taylor say anything, but in the video that came out later, you can see her say something like, ‘I’m watching the game.’”

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Molstad added: “The frustrating part was her assuming she had the right to rush into our row and get right in Taylor’s face, which was distracting while we were trying to watch the game.”

However, Molstad said photos and videos that showed Swift in the background suggested the pop star was relaxed. She “didn’t seem on edge,” she said, but was instead “focused on the game.”

Molstad also praised the way Swift’s security team handled the situation. She said she sympathized with the pop star over the intense attention she receives in public, adding that Swift “handles it really well.”

‘He didn’t make a big scene; he just put his hand up and said, “I don’t care. These are not your seats.” There really wasn’t a massive confrontation.

‘I think Taylor is justified to handle it however she needs to – none of us know what that level of attention is like. It was distracting just sitting in that section seeing how many people were yelling, holding up signs, or stopping in aisles instead of watching the game.’

Molstad also said that one fan was seen attempting to antagonize Swift and the members of her suite before being removed.

‘When we went to grab drinks, we saw someone pressed against the suite window flipping her off. We alerted the police officers stationed outside her suite, and they removed him,’ she recalled.’

‘What that guy didn’t realize was that the glass is blacked out with a board on the inside, so she couldn’t even see him.’

Of course, cameras at NFL games have long followed Swift since she first started dating Kelce in 2023, even receiving thunderous boos from crowds on more than one occasion.

And on Sunday, the popstar was seen greeting fellow suitemates, including WNBA star Caitlin Clark, singer Este Haim and Swift’s new mother-in-law Donna Kelce. 

But after seeing the drama unfold that day, Molstad and her friend made an active effort not to bother Swift, which she said landed them in the security guards’ good graces. 

‘We’re huge Swifties, but because of that, we know how much demand there is for her time and attention, so we made a point not to turn around and bother her,’ Molstad said.

‘We stayed in our seats for a bit after the game waiting for rideshare traffic to clear and the guards thanked us for being polite and patient, acknowledging that sitting there comes with a lot of chaos. They expressed appreciation for how cooperative we were.’

King Charles has met the last survivor rescued from the Aberfan disaster as the nation marks 60 years since the tragedy that claimed the lives of 116 children and 28 adults.

On October 21, 1966, an estimated 150,000 tons of coal waste tore down the mountainside and swept through the Welsh village, burying Pantglas Junior School and destroying the lives of an entire generation.

The deadly landslide followed three weeks of relentless rain. Mining waste excavated from Merthyr Vale Colliery became unstable before breaking loose and roaring down the slope.

For years, the spoil had been heaped on Mynydd Merthyr above Aberfan, despite the presence of several underground springs beneath the site.

Pupils at Pantglas Junior School were preparing to begin their lessons when around 1.5 million cubic feet of liquefied slurry struck the building and nearby homes.

Approximately half of the school’s children were killed in the disaster, which occurred on the final day before the half-term break.

Mining officials had previously been warned about the risk of “flowslides”. Yet although a 76-day public inquiry concluded that responsibility rested with the National Coal Board, no one was prosecuted, demoted or otherwise held criminally accountable.

The King, Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales visited the close-knit former mining community to meet survivors and families who lost loved ones, including Mair Morgan, the final surviving teacher from Pantglas Junior School.

Jeff Edwards OBE, who was eight when he was pulled from the rubble, was also present. He became known to the late Queen Elizabeth II as “the little boy with blond hair”.

Mr Edwards said the Royal Family had maintained its support for Aberfan “over a long period” since the disaster. The late Queen’s decision to visit the village eight days after the tragedy was reportedly regarded as the greatest regret of her 70-year reign.

“Those connections with the royal family go back for a very long way. And I know they will continue,” he told the Daily Mail.

He recalled that Lord Snowdon was the first member of the Royal Family’s circle to reach Aberfan on the day of the disaster. Snowdon later briefed Princess Margaret, who established a toy fund for the children, before the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the village.

Mr Edwards noted that the King had previously visited Aberfan twice. “He’s come back now with the current Queen and with the Duke of the Prince of Wales,” he added.

The Royal Family’s public show of solidarity came as Prince Harry said in a separate interview that he remained eager to rebuild family ties, although “some people don’t want it to work out”.

He said disputes between siblings and fractured relationships between parents and their children were “massively relatable” subjects that frequently arose in conversations with members of the public.

“People look at us, and go, ‘How are you going to work it out?’” Harry said. “Some people don’t want it to work out. I want it to work out.”

Ahead of the royal visit, crowds amassed in the small village in south Wales to welcome them.

Charles, Camilla and William will visit the Aberfan Memorial Garden, which is located on the site of the junior school, and the nearby Aberfan and Merthyr Vale Community Centre.

They will join survivors, bereaved parents and members of the community to pay tribute to all those who lost their lives.

A short prayer and a moment of silence will be held, during which The King and The Prince of Wales will lay wreaths, and The Queen will place a posy.

At the community centre the royal party will meet retired members of the emergency services who helped in the hours and days after the disaster.

They will then spend time with survivors, bereaved parents, and siblings of those who died.

Later, Prince William will visit Ynysowen Community Primary School where he will unveil the Aberfan Memorial Tree, a new sculpture created to commemorate the anniversary.

It comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham visited Aberfan on Monday, where he spoke with survivors and bereaved families and laid a wreath in memory of those who died. 

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions today, Mr Burnham said: ‘Today also marks the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster. I am sure the thoughts of the whole House will be with the community today, and with the people of Wales.

‘I visited on Monday and heard how the injustices people suffered at the time and in the aftermath of the tragedy at the hands of the state still hurt.

‘This is a day to recognise that, say sorry for it, but celebrate the strength and spirit of a community that has stood together through adversity all of these years.’

Queen Elizabeth II visited eight days after the tragedy and shortly after a mass funeral had taken place, a move that was said to be the greatest regret of her 70-year long reign.

The Queen’s former secretary, Lord Charteris, previously revealed he felt he had given the monarch poor advice to ‘stay away [from Aberfan] until the preliminary shock had worn off’.

However, when she arrived in the mining village in its darkest hour, she was met with respect and adoration by locals as she became ‘really upset’ and ‘had to compose herself’ before meeting those who had lost loved ones.

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‘If she’d come on the day, it would have impeded the rescue process because any royal visit does have an entourage with it; I think she came at the right time,’ Jeff said. 

‘She was really upset; she started to get tears in her eyes when Councillor Jim Williams’s granddaughter presented her the posy, which was inscribed from the surviving children.’

Throughout her reign, she visited several times and later gave a personal donation to the Aberfan and Merthyr Vale Youth and Community project, which later received the Golden Jubilee Award.

The initiative, of which the late Queen was ‘very supportive’, was co-founded by Jeff to support locals after he saw a rise in drug and alcohol use in the area in the decades that followed the disaster.

‘Lots of young people who traditionally went into the mining industry were unemployed because of the colliery closures, were stealing cars and were buying alcohol and drugs to alleviate the hopelessness of both of their lives,’ he explained.

In 1997, she also insisted on altering her schedule to go to the village while on an official visit to Merthyr Tydfil. She made her final visit for Aberfan in 2012 when she opened Ynysowen Community Primary School.

Charles, who was then the prince of Wales, visited Aberfan in 2016 and privately laid a wreath bearing the words ‘Er bythol gof a chyda’r cydymdeiumlad dwysaf’, meaning ‘In continuing memory and deepest sympathy’.

He planted a sweetgum tree in the Aberfan Memorial Garden and spoke to survivors at a reception before delivering a speech that included a message from the late Queen.

William previously met survivors of the Aberfan disaster when he visited with the Princess of Wales in 2023.

On the day of the tragedy, it was observed at 7.30am that a coal tip had sunk by around 10ft. Coal bosses were told at 9am, as a worker had to walk to them because there were no phone lines on the mountain. By this time the tip had sunk another 10ft.

Just 15 minutes later, coal tip No7 collapsed, sending 150,000 tons of slurry barrelling into 240 schoolchildren at Pantglas Junior School, their teachers and 19 homes on Moy Road.

Local residents were left with no choice but to take £150,000 from a memorial fund to pay for the clean-up bill. This was eventually returned after decades of campaigning.

First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth, who will attend the remembrance event, described Aberfan as ‘one of the darkest days in our nation’s history’.

‘The events of 21st October 1966 devastated the community of Aberfan. It robbed a generation of its children of their futures in a matter of moments,’ he said ahead of the anniversary.

‘Hearing stories of that day is an early memory that left a deep and lasting effect on me.

‘It brought home to me the horror of that day for all those who were there, and who lived to bear witness to what happened.

‘The story of Aberfan will never be forgotten. It is a story of the most terrible loss and grief. But also a story of the resilience of a community over six decades.’

Ahead of the milestone, Stephen Kinnock, Secretary of State for Wales, said: ‘The community of Aberfan suffered a loss so profound that it remains etched into the memory of our nation.

‘Today, we remember each and every one of them.

‘Aberfan is a community that has shown extraordinary strength, resilience and dignity in the face of such devastating tragedy, coming together time and again to ensure that all who were lost there are never forgotten.’

Archbishop of Wales Cherry Vann said: ‘Today, as we commemorate that heartbreaking day, our thoughts and prayers are with the people of a community which has shown, in face of unbearable suffering, the most inspiring resilience and strength.

‘We offer our prayers for all across Wales and beyond who are touched by today’s commemorations.’

Ahead of the 60th anniversary of the disaster, a shocking report revealed that around one in ten families in Wales are still living near ‘high risk’ coal tips that are becoming increasingly unsafe due to the impacts of climate change.

There are 2,589 disused coal tips scattered throughout Wales, hundreds of which have been labelled Category C and D, requiring more frequent monitoring because they pose a higher risk.

In January 2025, an FOI request by BBC Wales found 13 coal tips had been upgraded to a higher risk category since November 2022, with 11 of those upgraded to the most serious categories – C and D.

Fresh concerns arose in November 2024, after Storm Bert sparked a ‘washout of a former coal tip’ in Cwmtillery, Blaenau Gwent, forcing residents to leave their homes and stay in a leisure centre overnight.

That same year, the UK Government pledged £25million to Welsh coal tip safety for 2025-26 as well as further funding of £39.3million a year until 2029.

A new report has revealed that more than 130,000 households in Wales are close to coal tips, which pose a risk to public safety amid fears of the consequences of extreme weather such as heavy rain in the area.