British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned recent arson attacks on Jewish sites in London and announced an increase in police activity.
Starmer said he was “outraged” by a series of recent arson attacks in north-west London, the latest of which took place on Saturday night.
“This is disgusting and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain. We are stepping up visible policing and the perpetrators will be found and brought to justice. We will not stop at prosecuting the perpetrators,” the prime minister wrote on social media X.
Local police have reported an increase in resources following a series of arson and attempted arson attacks in north-west London. Investigations into the incidents are ongoing.
In the latest incident targeting a synagogue in north London, a fire caused minor smoke damage to an interior room and no people were injured, said the Community Safety Trust (CST), an organisation that provides safety advice to Jewish communities.
A building formerly used by the charity Jewish Futures was targeted in the Hendon borough on Friday night.
“The ongoing campaign of violence and intimidation against the UK Jewish community is gathering momentum. Thank God no one was killed, but we cannot and must not wait for this to change before we realise how dangerous this moment is for our entire community,” Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis wrote on social media X.
The pro-Iranian group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyya has claimed responsibility for most of the recent incidents. The group has also claimed responsibility for a series of attacks across Europe.