Counterterror Police Probe Arson Attack At A Former London Synagogue Amid Antisemitic Attacks

LONDON — Counterterror constabulary were investigating an arson onslaught astatine a erstwhile London synagogue Tuesday arsenic Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a gathering to respond to a caller activity of antisemitic attacks that person caused outrage and fearfulness successful nan Jewish community.

Gates and a fastener connected nan beforehand of nan erstwhile temple successful nan Whitechapel area of eastbound London had insignificant damage, but nary 1 was injured, Metropolitan Police said.

The incident is nan latest onslaught since 4 ambulances owned by a Jewish kindness were torched successful March. Since then, a synagogue was firebombed and different Jewish sites person been targeted successful attempted arsons. Last week, 2 Jewish men were stabbed successful what constabulary person called an enactment of terror.

“It is portion of a shape of rising antisemitism that has near our Jewish communities emotion frightened, angry, and asking whether this country, their home, is safe for them,” Starmer told organization leaders. “These disgusting attacks are being made against British Jews. But, make nary mistake, this situation — it is simply a situation for each of us.”

The number of antisemitic incidents reported crossed nan U.K. has soared since nan onslaught by Hamas-led militants connected confederate Israel connected Oct. 7, 2023, and nan consequent warfare successful Gaza, according to nan Community Security Trust charity. The group recorded 3,700 incidents successful 2025, up from 1,662 successful 2022.

The activity of caller attacks person travel since nan Feb. 28 commencement of nan Iran warfare and constabulary are looking into whether they are nan activity of Iranian proxies.

A pro-Iran group calling itself Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia — aliases Islamic Movement of nan Companions of nan Right — has claimed work for respective of nan attacks. It has besides admitted being down incidents successful caller months astatine places of worship, business and financial institutions crossed Europe, each of which look to beryllium linked to Jewish aliases Israeli interests.

“One of nan lines of enquiry is whether a overseas authorities has been down immoderate of these incidents,” Starmer said. “Our connection to Iran, aliases to immoderate different state that mightiness activity to foment violence, hatred aliases section successful society, is that it will not beryllium tolerated.”

Starmer promised to return action to tackle antisemitism, including requiring universities to people nan standard of nan problem and return steps to extremity it. Arts backing will beryllium withdrawn from anyone promoting antisemitism.

Britain raised its panic threat level from important to terrible — nan second-highest connected a five-point standard — aft nan stabbings. The standing intends intelligence agencies see an onslaught highly apt successful nan adjacent six months.

The alteration was not solely owed to nan knifings but besides “from Islamist and utmost right-wing violent threat from individuals and mini groups based successful nan U.K,” nan authorities said.

Melley writes for nan Associated Press.