Two Jewish men were stabbed outside a synagogue in north London this morning, leading to warnings of a “violent security nightmare” after a series of arson attacks in the capital.
Two people were stabbed in Golders Green (Image: Getty Images)
Britain’s antisemitism crisis is a “national security threat” that must be tackled immediately, Keir Starmer has been told.
Two Jewish men were stabbed outside a synagogue in north London this morning, leading to warnings of a “violent security nightmare” after a series of arson attacks in the capital.
And the Jewish neighbourhood watch group, Shomrim, said the alleged attacker was seen running along Golders Green Road armed with a knife and “attempting to stab” people.
He was detained by members of the security group before being arrested by police.
Lord Walney, the Former Government extremism tsar, said: “This appears to be the latest hideous attack in the violent security nightmare facing Jewish communities across the UK. We pray for the victims and hope the security services can establish facts and secure the area for frightened residents as soon as possible.”
Ghaffar Hussain, a former Prevent counter terror officer, said: “Over the past six months, the UK has seen a disturbing rise in violent antisemitic incidents. This indicates that antisemitism is no longer a peripheral social ill but a primary national security threat that needs to be addressed immediately.”
An anti-Semitism charity said a man was “spotted with a knife by a Jewish passer-by who shouted a warning to others”.
“The man was then seen running along Golders Green Road towards a bus stop in the heavily-Jewish neighbourhood armed where we are told by witnesses that he stabbed Jewish members of the public,” according to a spokesman for Campaign Against Antisemitism.
“Shomrim, the Jewish community’s volunteer-led neighbourhood watch patrol, immobilised the suspect with a vehicle and detained him until police arrived. We are told that Met Police officers deployed a taser and arrested the suspect.”
The charity said two victims, who it believes to be Jewish, were treated on the scene by Hatzola, the local Jewish community’s volunteer-led emergency medical response charity.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “This is yet another appalling antisemitic attack. The Jewish community are not being properly protected from this hate.
“We have seen Iran sponsoring antisemitic attacks and Islamist extremism run rampant.
“The Government must urgently step up tangible actions against antisemitism, Iran and Islamist extremism.”