Dr. Bharat Pankhania, the 798th Mayor of Bath, has been suspended from the Liberal Democrat group on Bath and North East Somerset Council after retweeting posts on X (formerly Twitter) that falsely claimed the recent arson attack on ambulances run by a Jewish charity in Golders Green was an Israeli false flag operation.
The posts also insinuated that the attack was linked to insurance fraud, prompting widespread condemnation. Dr. Pankhania has deleted these retweets and publicly apologized, describing the content as “abhorrent” and acknowledging his mistake.
He has served as a councillor for the Combe Down ward since 2019, and his mayoral role is largely ceremonial, lasting one year. A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrat group confirmed his suspension and stated he will undertake mandatory training in equalities and social media conduct.
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Dr. Pankhania expressed deep regret, saying, “I made a mistake in retweeting without fully appreciating that retweeting can be seen as an endorsement. There is no animosity on my part toward any people or religions. I immediately apologized and removed the posts when I realized the error.”
The tweets in question referenced the burning of ambulances operated by Hatzola, a volunteer-led Jewish ambulance service in London that serves the community regardless of background. The attack occurred on March 23 in Golders Green, a London neighborhood with a significant Jewish population, and is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime. Two men arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life have been released under strict bail conditions as investigations continue.
The Liberal Democrat group reiterated their condemnation of antisemitism, stating, “We stand in solidarity with the Jewish community following this vile attack. Dr. Pankhania has offered an unreserved apology and will undergo the necessary training to prevent any future incidents.”