Met chief says British Jews ‘not safe’ in London after series of attacks
By UK Bureau2 min read
Counter-terrorism officers in London have launched 11 investigations and arrested 35 people after “a sustained period of attack” upon the Jewish community, the head of the UK’s biggest police force has disclosed.
In one of his starkest comments on antisemitism in the UK Mark Rowley, the Met commissioner, told MPs in a letter: “British Jews are not currently safe in their capital city.”
The investigations, in which 10 people have been charged, include the attack on 29 April in Golders Green, in which two British Jews were stabbed, an arson attack on an ambulance and nine other incidents.
The letter was disclosed as King Charles visited Golders Green, in north-west London, on Thursday and met victims of the stabbings last month in a show of support to the community.
Charles, waving, with a smiling Mirvis standing slightly behind him and to his left
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King Charles, left, with the chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, as he greets local residents during his visit to Golders Green in London. Photograph: Richard Pohle/AP
In a letter to the Commons home affairs select committee on Wednesday, Rowley wrote: “Over the last six weeks Jewish Londoners have been under a sustained period of attack.
“This has included the attack on a Hatzola ambulance on 23 March, nine other arson/attempted arson attacks, and most significantly the terrorist attack on 29 April in Golders Green, in which two British Jews were stabbed. British Jews are not currently safe in their capital city.
In one of his starkest comments on antisemitism in the UK Mark Rowley, the Met commissioner, told MPs in a letter: “British Jews are not currently safe in their capital city.”
The investigations, in which 10 people have been charged, include the attack on 29 April in Golders Green, in which two British Jews were stabbed, an arson attack on an ambulance and nine other incidents.
The letter was disclosed as King Charles visited Golders Green, in north-west London, on Thursday and met victims of the stabbings last month in a show of support to the community.
Charles, waving, with a smiling Mirvis standing slightly behind him and to his left
View image in fullscreen
King Charles, left, with the chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, as he greets local residents during his visit to Golders Green in London. Photograph: Richard Pohle/AP
In a letter to the Commons home affairs select committee on Wednesday, Rowley wrote: “Over the last six weeks Jewish Londoners have been under a sustained period of attack.
“This has included the attack on a Hatzola ambulance on 23 March, nine other arson/attempted arson attacks, and most significantly the terrorist attack on 29 April in Golders Green, in which two British Jews were stabbed. British Jews are not currently safe in their capital city.
