Disgust as a football fan in the top no. Manchester United’s 7 with Hamas printed on back parades through London as police launch manhunt

• Jewish man left ‘shocked’ after seeing fan wearing ‘offensive’ shirt
• He wore a Manchester United top with “Hamas” on the back and the number seven
• The witness feared the T-shirt referred to October 7

A Jewish man said he was “shocked” and “very offended” after seeing a football fan wearing a Manchester United shirt with the word “Hamas” on the back alongside the number seven as he walked around the capital.

The dark-haired man was shot while casually walking near London’s Oxford Circus tube station on Friday afternoon wearing a ‘Hamas 7’ Red Devils shirt.

The Met Police confirmed they are actively looking to identify the man wearing a top with “an offensive message”.

One Jew, who wished to remain anonymous, said it looked newly printed and feared the number, along with the word “Hamas”, could be a reference to the October 7 attacks against Israel.

Hamas is a terrorist organization banned in the UK.

Membership and expressing support for Hamas is illegal and punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

He said: “I was going to collect some shoes and I saw this guy. I found it unbelievable – no one was reacting or seemed to notice.

“I watched him for about two minutes and took pictures. I think he was aware that I was taking pictures of him, but he didn’t seem to care.

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The man asked if Hamas could have been a family name, but he thinks that is unlikely.

He added: “Even if it was his surname, he would certainly have been aware of the association.

The shirt was a Man United shirt and appeared to be freshly printed.

“To bear the name of a terrorist organization is truly shocking,

“I was very offended, especially as the number seven could have been in reference to the October 7 attacks.”

The onlooker said he reported the matter to the police and was told that officers in the area would be notified and would be on the lookout.

Hamas is the terrorist organization responsible for killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 252 citizens hostage on October 7, 2023.

In a statement to MailOnline, the Met Police said: “On Friday 24 May, police received a call from a member of the public reporting that a man was walking around Oxford Street, W1, wearing a football shirt with a message offensive to him.

“Enquiries are being carried out to try to identify the man.

“Anyone with information that could help police is asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and quote CAD3538/24May.”

After being contacted by MailOnline, Manchester United confirmed that they do not allow political slogans to be printed on shirts sold through the club’s official channels.