Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to take action against individuals who “venerate the murder of Jews” at protests, following a stabbing attack on two Jewish men in Golders Green, north-west London. The UK’s terrorism threat level has been raised to “severe”, meaning an attack is “highly likely”, after the incident on Wednesday.
Speaking after visiting the scene and meeting emergency workers and community leaders, Starmer said the government would do “everything in our power to stamp this hatred out”. He condemned protesters who chant antisemitic slogans or display images of paragliders, stating: “If you are marching with people wearing pictures of paragliders without calling it out, you are venerating the murder of Jews.”
The prime minister also called for the prosecution of those who use the phrase “globalise the intifada”, describing it as “calling for terrorism against Jews”. He acknowledged the fear among British Jews, noting a series of recent attacks including an arson attempt in Hendon, an attack on a Jewish ambulance service, a firebomb at a Harrow synagogue, and the deaths of two Jewish men at a Manchester synagogue last year.
The suspect in the Golders Green attack, understood to be 45-year-old Essa Suleiman, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is in custody. It emerged that he was referred to the government’s Prevent counter-extremism programme in 2020 but was cleared within six weeks. The case has raised questions about the scheme’s effectiveness.
Starmer announced an additional £25 million in funding for Jewish security services and stronger powers to shut down charities promoting antisemitic extremism. He also pledged to prevent hate preachers from entering the country and to speed up sentencing for antisemitic attacks. A review of public order and hate crime laws is expected to be presented to ministers within weeks.
