DEVELOPING: Police Clarify Fan Ban Statement, Deny Implying Jewish Community Support

Breaking News: Police Clarify Fan Ban Statement, Deny Implying Jewish Community Support West Midlands Police has clarified a statement made by Assistant Chief Constable Mike O'Hara, denying that he implied the Jewish community supported the ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a football match in Birmingham. The clarification comes after O'Hara was questioned by MPs on Monday. The police force has apologized to members of the Jewish community in a letter, following O'Hara's statement that some Jewish community representatives in Birmingham did not want Maccabi fans attending the Europa League tie with Aston Villa on November 6. The decision to ban away fans from Villa Park was widely criticized, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressing his anger. The match was classified as high-risk by West Midlands police based on "intelligence and previous incidents." The police force has maintained that the decision was necessary to ensure public safety. This clarification comes as a response to the Home Affairs Committee's questioning of the justification for the decision. The police force has stated that the ban was not intended to imply any support from the Jewish community. This is a developing story, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.