Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to take action against individuals 'venerating the murder of Jews' at protest marches, following a stabbing attack in Golders Green that left two Jewish men injured. The UK terror threat level has been raised to 'severe' by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, indicating a terrorist attack is 'highly likely'.
Speaking after visiting the scene in north-west London, Starmer promised to do 'everything in our power to stamp this hatred out'. He acknowledged the fear among British Jews, citing a series of antisemitic attacks that have intensified amid the Israel-Gaza war. The prime minister called on people to 'open their eyes to Jewish pain' and condemned those who chant or display antisemitic slogans at pro-Palestine marches.
Starmer said: 'If you are marching with people wearing pictures of paragliders without calling it out, you are venerating the murder of Jews. If you stand alongside people who say "globalise the intifada", you are calling for terrorism against Jews, and people who use that phrase should be prosecuted.' He described antisemitism as 'extreme racism' that has left a minority community 'scared, intimidated, wondering if they belong'.
The government's counter-extremism scheme, Prevent, has come under scrutiny after it emerged that the suspect in the Golders Green attack, Essa Suleiman, was referred to the programme in 2020 but cleared within six weeks. The 45-year-old was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remains in custody.
Starmer announced £25 million in additional funding for Jewish security services and stronger powers to shut down charities promoting antisemitic extremism. He also promised to prevent hate preachers from entering the country and to speed up sentencing for antisemitic attacks. The review of laws on public order and hate crime is expected to be handed to ministers within weeks.
