Chief Rabbi says attacks 'gathering momentum' after new synagogue arson attempt

2 hours ago 4

BBC Police officers patrol at a cordon near to an incident at the Kenton United Synagogue in HarrowBBC

The Met says it has stepped up patrols in the area

Attacks on the Jewish community are "gathering momentum", the Chief Rabbi says, after another arson attack was reported at a north-west London synagogue.

The Community Security Trust (CST), an organisation which provides security for Jewish people, said Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow was attacked overnight. No one was injured and minor smoke damage was reported.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis described the latest attack as "cowardly".

He wrote on social media: "Last night yet another synagogue, this time in Kenton, was targeted in a cowardly arson attack.

"It follows the attack in Finchley on Wednesday and the attempted attack on what was the Jewish Futures building in Hendon on Friday night, making three Jewish sites attacked in London in less than a week."

The Met said counter terrorism officers are investigating the latest attack as well as ones on a Persian language media organisation and ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity set alight in Golders Green last month.

Sir Ephraim added: "A sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum.

"This sustained attack on our community's ability to worship and live in safety is an attack on the values that bind us all together.

"Thank God, no lives have been lost, but we cannot, and must not, wait for that to change before we understand just how dangerous this moment is for all of our society."

The prime minister also said he was appalled by the recent attacks.

On social media, Sir Keir Starmer wrote: "This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.

"We are increasing visible policing and those responsible will be found and brought to justice. We will not rest in the pursuit of perpetrators."

PA A marked Metropolitan Police car is parked on a residential street in north‑west London while emergency vehicles and several people stand beside parked cars further up the road, with trees and brick walls lining the street.PA

One marked and about five unmarked police cars were seen outside the synagogue on Sunday morning

The Met said at about midnight on Sunday, officers on "deterrence and reassurance patrols" noticed damage to a window of the Kenton United Synagogue.

"On further inspection they saw smoke inside a room and evidence that a bottle with some sort of accelerant had been thrown through the window.

"The London Fire Brigade was called and firefighters searched the building to confirm that there was no further fire risk."

The synagogue is close to a school and children's playground, and police were seen searching a black SUV nearby on Sunday morning.

A large cordon is in place and a forensics officer, fire investigation dogs and several plainclothes officers were working at the scene.

One marked and about five unmarked police cars were outside the place of worship.

CST said no significant structural damage was caused, with only minor smoke damage reported to an internal room.

A spokesperson for CST said: "We want to thank the Met Police and London Fire Brigade for responding quickly and for all they are doing to protect the Jewish community during this unprecedented period.

"We are supporting the affected location and are working closely with the police as they investigate and seek to identify those responsible."

A spokesperson for the Campaign Against Antisemitism said this "is now terrifyingly becoming a spate of daily arson attacks on the Jewish community".

On Saturday evening, the Met Police said it was increasing patrols across north‑west London, with more officers, stop and search powers, and armed and counter‑terrorism units deployed to protect communities and deter further incidents.

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