The British government has declared antisemitism an emergency, pledging £25 million ($34 million) to boost security at Jewish sites following a series of attacks, including a double stabbing in London and arson at synagogues. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said tackling antisemitism is “the top pressing issue in relation to security” she faces.
On Wednesday, two Jewish men, aged 34 and 76, were stabbed and seriously injured in Golders Green, a northwest London suburb with a large Jewish community. Police arrested a 45-year-old man on suspicion of attempted murder and are treating the attack as terrorism. The suspect has a history of serious violence and mental health issues, according to police.
Counterterrorism detectives are investigating possible links to recent arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites in London. Some of those attacks have been claimed by a group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which Israeli officials say may be linked to an Iranian proxy. The same group claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s stabbing, though authorities are assessing the claim’s credibility.
The number of antisemitic incidents in the UK has surged since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Gaza war. The Community Security Trust recorded 3,700 incidents in 2025, up from 1,662 in 2022. In October 2025, an attacker drove into a crowd outside a Manchester synagogue on Yom Kippur, fatally stabbing one person; another person died after being inadvertently shot by police.
Some Jewish groups say pro-Palestinian protests have fostered an atmosphere of intimidation and hatred. Former terrorism legislation reviewer Jonathan Hall called for a temporary ban on such marches, arguing they have helped “incubate” antisemitism. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch backed the ban, saying the marches “are used as a cover for violence and intimidation against Jews.”
The government announced it will introduce legislation to prosecute individuals and groups acting on behalf of state-sponsored organisations. The additional funding will provide more police patrols and protection around synagogues, schools, and community centres.
