London terror attack latest: Two Jewish victims of ‘appalling’ Golders Green stabbing named as man arrested – UK Times

A protest is taking place on Golders Green Road, close to where two Jewish men were stabbed earlier on Wednesday and the memorial wall where an attempted arson attack took place on Monday.

At least 150 protesters marched down the road waving flags and chanting “IRGC terrorists, UK put them on the list”, “Keir Starmer’s a wanker” and “shame on Sadiq Khan”.

Among those speaking to demonstrators was Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, Laila Cunningham, the party’s candidate for London mayor, and Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary.

The protest was organised by campaign group Stop The Hate.

Kemi Badenoch has said that the fear within the Jewish community is “palpable” and has said that more needs to be done to tackle antisemitism in the UK.

Speaking on Sky News, she reiterated her statement that it is a “national emergency” and said: “I cannot tell you how palpable the fear people there have. They are scared, people are saying being visibly Jewish now is impossible. “

Referring to her visit to Golders Green, she said: “It was also quite striking that they feel they need to protect themselves. It was Shomrim, the voluntary security who got there and apprehended the assailant.

“They are very worried and I understand why, this is happening all over the country.”

The shadow home secretary has called for the expulsion of Iranian diplomats following the stabbing of two Jewish men in north London.

At the scene in Golders Green, Chris Philp said: “There is no question our country’s Jewish community is under attack, and all we get from the government is words.

“Iran is behind some of these attacks, we need to expel Iranian diplomats and spies.

“There is also evidence that foreign nationals are bringing antisemitic views into this country, so any foreign citizen who expresses antisemitic views, support for terrorism, or support for extremism, should be deported.”

At the police cordon in Golders Green, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: “There are terrorists and violent people who are seeking out visibly Jewish people.

“This is a national emergency.

“It is time to ban these marches, they were initially about a war in the Middle East, but now it’s quite clear they are used as a cover for violence and intimidation against Jews.”

The Prime Minister said he would meet with criminal justice agencies on Thursday following the suspected terror attack in Golders Green.

Sir Keir Starmer told broadcasters: “The Government is taking action in relation to security, cohesion, extremism, but of course it’s our responsibility to co-ordinate the immediate response here to this appalling attack, to ensure security is in place, to take other measures.

“I’m holding a meeting tomorrow with the criminal justice agencies to make sure that we have effective and swift justice in these cases.

“But we do have to recognise the levels of anxiety and concern there are, that I know about in terms of the Jewish community feeling very much exposed and vulnerable, feeling they’ve got to hide their identity, sometimes in the health service, sometimes at school, on the streets where they live.

“It’s our job to make sure that they feel safe and secure. It’s our job to make sure that we absolutely deal with the roots of antisemitism and extremism. That is what we will do.”

Sir Keir Starmer suggested the Government would deal with “the root causes of extremism and antisemitism” following the attack in Golders Green.

He told broadcasters: “I’ve just held a Cobra meeting, bringing together all the relevant partners, including the Home Secretary, the London Mayor, the Metropolitan (Police) commissioner, to co-ordinate our response and to look at enhanced security.

“I’ve also spoken to CST. There is enhanced funding already in place. We need to increase that to give the level of protection that is needed.

“We need to take measures to deal with malign state actors, but we also have to be really clear that we need to get to the root causes of extremism and antisemitism, and so that is what we’re doing.”

Sir Keir Starmer said he would visit Golders Green “as soon as possible” following today’s “appalling attack”.

He acknowledged the attack was the latest in a string of antisemitic incidents.

The prime minister added: “Let’s be frank, this is not an isolated incident. There’s been a series of antisemitic attacks and I know first hand the anxiety that that is causing in the community and concern.

“I was at Kenton synagogue last week where I heard a lot about that level of anxiety. It’ll be worse after today.

“We’re very much in touch with the community, and I’ll visit as soon as possible.”

Specialist terrorism prosecutors are working with police following the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green on Wednesday, the Crown Prosecution Service said.

Stephen Parkinson, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: “My thoughts are with the victims of today’s appalling attack in Golders Green and the Jewish community at this very difficult time.

“Specialist prosecutors in the Counter Terror Division are working closely with the police to bring those responsible to justice.

“We will not tolerate the scourge of antisemitism and we will do everything in our powers to prosecute those responsible.”

Sir Keir Starmer has been told he must tackle the “pandemic” of antisemitic attacks in Britain after two Jewish men were brutally stabbed by a knifeman in a terrorist attack in London.

Disturbing CCTV footage captured the moment a man wearing a white t-shirt and dark jacket launched an unprovoked attack on an elderly man wearing a kippah, a Jewish skullcap, near a bus stop in Golders Green, north London.

The alleged assailant was seen walking up the road before he suddenly drew a blade and lunged at the man at around 11.15am on Wednesday, before walking away and leaving his victim bleeding from the neck, witnesses said. Further footage shows the knifeman running to catch up with another Jewish man, who shouts in terror and runs away.

Read the full article from our crime correspondent Amy-Clare Martin here: