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

BBC

Attacks on the Jewish community are "gathering momentum", the Chief Rabbi says, after another attempted 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.

The incident comes amid a series of arson and attempted arson attacks on Jewish property over the past month, including a former charity building in Hendon that counter‑terrorism police are treating as an antisemitic hate crime.

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."

Counter terrorism officers are also investigating attempted arson attacks on a Persian language media organisation as well as 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."

PA

Kenton United 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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