UK counterterror police target mother over support for Israel

Key Points:

• Holly Passmore, a British mother from County Durham, was targeted by counterterrorism police after an anonymous referral to the UK’s Prevent program flagged her support for Israel following an educational trip organized by Israel’s embassy.
• Despite a police intelligence report stating that supporting Israel or traveling there did not constitute a counterterrorism concern, officers questioned Passmore about her connections to Israel, future travel plans, and interest in Jewish matters.
• Passmore, who cares for her autistic son and is studying Holocaust history, disputes claims about her mental health and vulnerability, and discovered she was briefly designated a vulnerable adult in her medical records without explanation.
• After complaining, Passmore was reassured by senior officers that she was not considered a terrorist or extremist, though she alleges she was encouraged to stop discussing the incident publicly.
• Counter Terrorism Policing North East declined to comment on the case, and inquiries to Durham Constabulary and the regional health board were made by The Telegraph.