Call to ‘blow up’ Jewish conference by former Bristol professor investigated

Police are investigating a tweet by a former University of Bristol professor which called for somebody to “blow up” a Jewish Labour Movement event.

Harriet Bradley was also previously a councillor for Brislington West, but resigned from Bristol City Council in 2020, citing ill-health. She was suspended from the Labour Party in 2016 for a different social media post that the party deemed as anti-Semitic.

Bradley wrote her most recent comment on X, formerly known as Twitter, quote re-tweeting a post which said shadow cabinet members Wes Streeting and Bridget Phillipson were due to speak at the event.

In a tweet which has subsequently been deleted, Bradley wrote: “Somebody blow up the venue!”

On her @cllrharrietbrad account, Harriet Bradley tweeted: “Somebody blow up the venue!” – image: X

Bradley apologised for the remark and said she “deeply regrets” writing the tweet.

Avon and Somerset Police said it had recorded the post as an “incident of malicious communications”, and was investigating.

The 78-year-old had previously been granted honorary status of emeritus professor by both the University of Bristol and the University of West England after she retired as a sociology professor.

Emeritus status is given to retired academics who “have given a significant contribution to the University as an academic leader and for a significant period of time”.

Both universities have confirmed that Bradley has since been stripped of her titles. She was listed by the University of Bristol as an expert and emeritus professor on its website until Wednesday, but the page is no longer available.

Bradley said: “I want to offer an apology on what was a very ill-considered stupid tweet, I am ashamed of having made it.

“It has had awful consequences for me obviously and I’d like to apologise to anybody who was upset, offended, frightened even.”

The 78-year-old had previously been granted honorary status of emeritus professor by both the University of Bristol and the University of West England – photo: Betty Woolerton

Mike Katz, the national chair of the Jewish Labour Movement, said the tweet was especially harmful considering a recent rise of antisemitism.

He said: “I’d say if you are an academic, you’d think that words matter, what you say matters and it can have an impact.

“I don’t think that this is something she was going to do but I think you have got to take the possibility of incitement very seriously.

“There is a real feeling of uncertainty around the Jewish community,” he added.

A University of Bristol spokesperson said: “We are deeply dismayed by the inflammatory comment on social media from a former employee who has long since retired, and are taking appropriate action.

“We can confirm that we have withdrawn the Emeritus and Honorary Status of retired employee Professor Harriet Bradley with immediate effect.”

A spokesperson from UWE said: “Harriet Bradley’s permanent employment at UWE Bristol ended in 2018.

“Following her recent offensive remarks on social media, we can confirm that her honorary title of Emeritus Professor has been removed with immediate effect.”

Main photo: Ian McDonald / YouTube

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