Prime Minister Starmer 'Appalled' by Latest Synagogue Arson Attack in London
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed his profound dismay following another attempted arson attack at a synagogue in north-west London, marking the latest in a disturbing series of incidents targeting Jewish properties in the area. Counter-terrorism police are now leading investigations into multiple arson or attempted arson attacks that have occurred over the past month, heightening concerns about antisemitic violence.
Details of the Latest Incident
In the early hours of Sunday, officers conducting "deterrence and reassurance patrols" in response to previous attacks discovered damage to a window at Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow. According to a Metropolitan Police spokesperson, a bottle containing an accelerant had been thrown through the window, with smoke observed inside a room. The incident is being treated as arson, with Counter Terrorism Policing London spearheading the investigation, supported by local officers.
The Community Security Trust (CST) reported that the attack caused minor smoke damage to an internal room, but fortunately, no injuries or significant structural damage occurred. The synagogue is situated near a school and children's playground, prompting a large police cordon and the presence of forensic officers, fire investigation dogs, and plainclothes personnel at the scene. One marked and approximately five unmarked police cars were stationed outside the place of worship.
Political and Community Responses
In a statement shared on X, formerly Twitter, Sir Keir Starmer declared, "I am appalled by recent attempted antisemitic arson attacks in North London. This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain." He emphasized that visible policing is being increased, and those responsible will be pursued and brought to justice, vowing not to rest until perpetrators are held accountable.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis condemned the attack as "a cowardly arson attack," warning that "a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum." He highlighted that this incident follows attacks in Finchley on Wednesday and an attempted attack in Hendon on Friday night, making three Jewish sites targeted in London in less than a week. Mirvis stressed that this assault on the community's ability to worship and live safely threatens the values that unite society, urging vigilance despite no lives being lost thus far.
Context of Recent Attacks
This latest attack comes hours after the Metropolitan Police deployed additional resources to parts of north-west London, treating an attempted arson on Friday night as an antisemitic hate crime. Counter Terrorism Policing London is also investigating the Hendon incident, along with prior attacks due to "similar circumstances and online claims of responsibility." In that case, a man was seen approaching a row of shops in Hendon, Barnet, carrying a plastic bag with three bottles of fluid. He placed the bag by a building, lit the items inside, and fled when they failed to ignite fully, causing minor damage to the former Jewish Futures building's shopfront with no injuries.
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday, bottles, one suspected to contain petrol, were placed near Finchley Reform Synagogue in Fallow Court Avenue, Finchley. Two individuals in dark clothing and balaclavas were observed approaching the synagogue just after midnight, but neither bottle ignited, and they fled without causing damage or injuries. This spate follows an incident on March 23, when four Jewish community ambulances were torched in Golders Green.
Increased Security Measures
In response to these attacks, the Metropolitan Police has implemented heightened security measures. After the Hendon attack, armed response vehicles, counter-terrorism resources, and police motorbikes were deployed to Barnet, with a "significantly increased" number of uniformed and plainclothes officers visible throughout the weekend. Extra stop and search powers have also been granted across the borough to enhance safety and deter further incidents.
Charity and Advocacy Reactions
A spokesperson for the CST, a charity monitoring antisemitism and providing protection for Jewish communities in the UK, acknowledged the latest attempted arson and thanked the Met Police and London Fire Brigade for their swift response. The CST is supporting the affected location and collaborating closely with police investigations to identify those responsible. Meanwhile, the Campaign Against Antisemitism described the situation as "now terrifyingly becoming a spate of daily arson attacks on the Jewish community," underscoring the escalating nature of these hate crimes.
