A Jeremy Corbyn supporter who starred in a Labour Party political broadcast referred previously to 'evil Jews' and denied the right of Israel to exist.

Lassaad Laouini, the general manager of Leeds Grand Mosque, was featured in a Labour promotional film broadcast on the BBC and ITV earlier this month.

He described how he opened the doors of the mosque for homeless people, suggesting that rough sleeping had risen under the Tories. But it emerged yesterday that he previously posted offensive messages on social media.

In one Mr Laouini, 37, from Leeds, suggested Jewish people have stirred up conflict in the Middle East. He also appeared to deny that Israel had a right to exist by saying the country should be referred to as 'Zionist entity'.

In a message from 2011, he shared an article about Israel supposedly intervening in Libya by sending mercenaries to help former ruler Muammar Gaddafi. He wrote above the link: 'The Zionists give a helping hand to their evil fellow Jew.'

Lassaad Laouini was featured in a Labour promotional film broadcast on the BBC and ITV earlier this month. He described how he opened the doors of the mosque for homeless people, suggesting that rough sleeping had risen under the Tories

The piece was from the 'Truth Seeker' website, which has previously produced stories including, 'Will a Rothschild be the Anti Christ?' and 'The Cabalist Jewish Plot to Islamize Germany'.

Mr Laouini also said the difference between Hitler and former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is that 'Hitler burned the Jews for his people but [Mubarak] burned his people for the Jews'.

Facebook curbs Corbynistas Facebook last night took action against two Jeremy Corbyn-supporting groups riddled with anti-Semitism and misogyny. The social media giant finally removed dozens of vile posts from the groups three weeks after they were exposed for hosting hate speech. Those sanctioned were We Support Jeremy Corbyn (with 68,000 members including two staff in Mr Corbyn's private office) and The Labour Party Forum (with 39,000 members). Facebook said the groups, which had hosted attacks on Jewish MPs and members of the Board of Deputies, do not 'follow our community standards'. London's Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan acknowledged that some Jewish people 'don't feel comfortable with the Labour Party' and called for 'tough' action against anti-Semites. He admitted that anti-Semitism was proving to be an issue as Labour bids to win votes across the capital in next month's local elections. Advertisement

Last night, Tory MP Andrew Percy, who is Jewish, said the comments were a 'stain' on Labour. 'We keep getting told by Labour leadership figures that racist anti-Semitism exists only in small numbers in the Labour Party, yet day after day more and more examples of it emerge and continue to go unchecked,' he said.

'We used to think only of the BNP as the racist party in UK politics, now our politics is being stained once again with racism, this time by Labour.'

A Labour Party spokesman said: 'The Labour Party does not of course endorse these comments. We were not aware of these utterly unacceptable social media comments and are reviewing our production processes.'

The revelation is a further embarrassment for Labour as it battles anti-Semitism charges.

Yesterday the Labour leader attempted to distance himself from anti-Semitic abuse carried out by his supporters, saying none of it was 'ever done in my name'. Mr Corbyn said the vile comments directed at some Labour MPs were 'disgusting' and 'appalling' and stressed the abuse was 'completely unacceptable'.

During an emotional Commons debate on anti-Semitism on Tuesday, Jewish Labour MPs Luciana Berger and Ruth Smeeth spoke movingly of the abuse they had endured. Miss Berger revealed that she had been called a 'Zionist pig' while Miss Smeeth broke down in tears after admitting she had been called a 'cancer of humanity'.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan also this week acknowledged that some Jewish people 'don't feel comfortable with Labour'.

Mr Corbyn is due to meet Jewish leaders on Tuesday following a wave of allegations of anti-Semitism against members.

Mr Lauoini apologised for the comments which he conceded that Jewish people may find 'offensive'.

But he said the posts had been 'taken out of context and misunderstood'.

'May I take this opportunity to apologise to anyone who may have found my use of words in some comments [or] posts hurtful,' he added.

'I will certainly be very mindful in the future, and will continue to serve our local communities with honour and privilege, regardless of faith or background.'