Countdown star Rachel Riley is accused of Islamophobia after comparing Sydney mall attack to a 'globalised Intifada' in now-deleted X post

Countdown star Rachel Riley has issued a grovelling apology after being accused of Islamophobia following her tweet about the Sydney mall massacre. 

The 38-year-old presenter faced a huge backlash after she falsely compared Saturday's horror attack in Australia to a pro-Palestinian uprising.

The bloody rampage was carried out by English tutor Joel Cauchi, 40, from Queensland, who police said had been suffering from mental health issues. 

In her now-deleted tweet, Riley appeared to compare the shopping centre attack, in which six people were killed before Cauchi was shot dead by police, to the 'globalised Infitada' movement.

The presenter has since released a statement on X in which she said she was 'sorry' if her message had been 'misunderstood' - after it led to her facing calls to be sacked by Channel 4. 

'Just to clarify, my intention with this tweet was not to say this attack was caused by any ideation or to link it to Islamic extremism,' Riley wrote.

The former Strictly Come Dancing star continued: 'At the time we did not know who the attacker was, and as such I made no reference.

'My aim was to highlight the weekly calls for 'intifada' being tolerated in London and around the world, which in actuality means violence on our streets.

'For 6 months now, I have avoided taking the tube, or going with my kids to anywhere near the marches each Saturday, and each week we see the extremist chants on proud display with little outcry.

'Sadly, the type of attack seen in Sydney yesterday is exactly the kind of violence the previous intifada involved and I hope to avoid in future, but in my opinion ignoring the problem won't make it go away.

'Attacks on Jews have recently become repackaged as 'resistance' in some circles, and we should in one voice condemn all acts of violence, whoever the perpetrators and whoever the victims.

'I am sorry if this message was misunderstood, that was not my intention.'

Her apology came after she sparked mass outrage on X and was accused of writing a racist statement about the Sydney stabbing.

In the now-deleted tweet, Riley wrote: 'For 6 months now, people have been out on our streets proudly calling for the 'Intifada Revolution.'

'If you want to know what 'Globalised Intifada' looks like, see the Sydney Mall.

'5 victims stabbed to death and 8 transferred to hospital, including a baby, due to one man and a knife.

'In the second intifada over 1,000 Israelis were murdered in restaurants, on buses and in the streets by suicide bombings, stabbings, stoning, lynching, shooting rockets. The youngest victim was just 9 hours old.

‘Sydney mall, multiple times over is what they’ve been proudly calling for.’ 

The tweet sparked mass outrage on social media, with @TocquevilleJnr among those who called her comments racist and demanded her employer, Channel 4, take action.

They wrote: ‘Dear Alex Mahon, CEO of publicly owned @Channel4. Is it right that a regular contributor to your station (Ms Rachel Riley) is IMO so outrageously divisive, hateful & racist ? Based on a complete falsehood.

'This person should NOT be a role model on our MSM @krishgm.'

Another person added: 'Where’s your apology @RachelRileyRR? Islamophobic to its core. @Channel4- you need to consider whether Rachel Riley represents your values.'

And Professor Ahmed Hankir wrote on X: 'I cannot, in good conscience, remain silent. We must not remain silent. When we see such bigotry, Islamophobia, racism & hatred we must call it out. Rachel Riley must be held accountable for these vile & divisive comments.'

A spokesperson for Channel 4 said: 'We have reminded Rachel of her obligations as a contributor to Channel 4 programming.'

Cauchi was shot and killed by a police inspector Amy Scott, who confronted him by herself during his deadly rampage at the Westfield shopping centre at Bondi Junction in the east of Sydney.

Six people died in the mayhem, with 12 others - including a nine-month-old baby girl - left injured.  

In a statement released through Queensland Police, the Cauchi family said: ‘We are absolutely devastated by the traumatic events that occurred in Sydney yesterday.

‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those still undergoing treatment at this time.

‘Joel’s actions were truly horrific, and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened.

‘He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.’

They added: ‘We are in contact with both the New South Wales Police Force and Queensland Police Service and have no issues with the police officer who shot our son as she was only doing her job to protect others, and we hope she is coping alright.’