Synagogues and Jewish schools will reportedly be protected by former Royal Marines and veterans of the Parachute Regiment as antisemitic violence grips the country.
It comes after the stabbing of two Jewish men in an attack on Golders Green, northwest London, on Wednesday and in the wake of a spate of attacks in Jewish neighbourhoods in recent weeks.
The series of incidents sparked the government’s decision on Thursday to raise the terrorism threat level to severe, meaning that another attack is now “highly likely”.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which is based in MI5 but makes independent assessments, previously set the threat level at “substantial”, meaning an attack was “likely”.
According to The Times, the deployment of former marines is believed to cost tens of thousands of pounds.
Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said that Jews were facing a “ghastly Venn diagram” of hate from all sides, and warned antisemitism was a growing threat to their safety because of social media, in an interview with The Times.
He also revealed he has requested urgent funding to recruit 300 officers to protect the Jewish community, with plans for a dedicated group of police to patrol northwest London.
Essa Suleiman, a 45-year-old British national born in Somalia who came to the UK legally as a child in the 1990s, has been charged following the stabbings.
He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, charged with three counts of attempted murder and one count of possessing a bladed article in a public place.
The court heard the defendant was staying at an address in southeast London, which provides supported accommodation to people leaving a secure hospital. The area is covered by the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust, which has confirmed he was under the care of their mental health services earlier this week.
Announcing the charges on Friday morning, commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: “Our thoughts remain with the victims involved, and specialist officers continue to provide them with support as their recovery continues.
“We are determined to get justice for the victims, and now that a person has been charged, I would urge everyone to avoid any further speculation in relation to this case so that justice can run its course.”
