George Galloway reportedly suffered bruising and a suspected broken jaw and rib in the attack on Friday in the capital's Notting Hill area while he was posing for pictures.

"George was posing for pictures with people and this guy just attacked him, leapt on him and started punching him," his spokesman said.

"It appears to be connected with his comments about Israel because the guy was shouting about the Holocaust."

Galloway had described himself as being in "pretty bad shape" following the assault Friday, the spokesman said.

Reports of broken bones have not been verified but police said the MP was badly injured.

A post by the Respect party's Twitter account thanked well-wishers and included a picture of Galloway's bruised face.

Galloway, the leader of the Respect party and MP for Bradford West, was interviewed by British police earlier this month following a speech on August 2 in Leeds in which he said Bradford as wan Israeli-free area due to the brutal atrocities the Zionist forces committed during their onslaught on Gaza.

"We don't want any Israeli goods; we don't want any Israeli services; we don't want any Israeli academics coming to the university or the college; we don't even want any Israeli tourists to come to Bradford, even if any of them had thought of doing so," he said.

A Metropolitan police spokesman said a suspect was identified a short time later and arrested.

"He was arrested on suspicion of ABH (actual bodily harm) and taken to the south London police station where he remains."

NTJ/MB