THE Mayor of Bath has been suspended from the Liberal Democrat group after alleged antisemitic tweets on his account on social media platform X.

Calls are continuing to grow for the Dr Bharat Pankhania to resign after he retweeted posts on his personal X account calling an arson attack on ambulances in Golders Green an Israeli false flag operation.

The posts targeted an arson attack on ambulances run by a Jewish charity Hatzola, established in London following the deaths of Jewish people waiting for ambulances.

The volunteer-led ambulance service responds to anybody within its area who needs help, whether Jewish or not.

Two further posts suggested the incident was a case of insurance fraud.

Dr Pankhania, the 798th Mayor of Bath, has since deleted the retweets and published a full apology.

He has been suspended from the Lib Dem group on Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES ), where he has been a councillor for Combe Down since 2019.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I am sorry and upset.

“I made a mistake in retweeting, not realising that retweeting is endorsement.

“There is no way I hate people or other religions.

“It is pure and simple a mistake on my part and that’s why I immediately apologised and withdrew my retweets.”

A Lib Dem group spokesperson said: “Dr Bharat Pankhania has been suspended from the Liberal Democrat group.

“We reject antisemitism in all its forms and stand in solidarity with the Jewish community following the appalling arson attack earlier this week.

“He has again offered an unreserved apology for these posts and will be undertaking training in equalities and social media conduct.”

B&NES Faith Foundation director Nathan Hartley is calling for the mayor to step down.

His organisation works with businesses, schools, and charities to tackle antisemitism and to raise awareness of the European Holocaust in the 1930s and 40s.

Mr Hartley said: “Organisations like ours have worked hard over the years to raise awareness of anti-Jewish hatred and how we all have a duty to stand up to it.

“To have these sorts of comments being made by one of Bath’s most senior representatives, is not only a disappointment, but an absolute disgrace.”

The most senior local politician to call for the mayor’s resignation is B&NES Independent group leader Cllr Karen Walker, who has written to the mayor’s office and the charter trustees asking for the process to now begin for him to be removed from office.

Cllr Walker, a two-time chairwoman of the authority, has worked with the Association of Jewish Refugees on projects across the district.

She said: “The charter trustees, that is the body of councillors who represent wards in the city of Bath, have the power to remove the mayor from office.

“Cllr Pankhania’s comments and support for ideas that breed antisemitism have no place in our great city.

“He now needs to tender his resignation.

“The Bath Mayoralty, which has lasted for almost 800 years, deserves much better than this.”