Faced with repeated allegations of an increase in anti-Semitic attacks, the London police announced the deployment of a new unit.
In the past four weeks, the police have made nearly 50 arrests related to anti-Semitic crimes, of which eight have resulted in formal charges. In addition, 28 other arrests have been made as part of joint investigations with anti-terrorist units for arson and other serious crimes.
The London police announced the creation of a new specialized unit of approximately 100 officers aimed at strengthening the security of Jewish communities, following a significant increase in anti-Semitic attacks in recent weeks.
The measure is framed in a context of growing concern for safety, following several serious incidents, including arson, physical aggression and acts of vandalism against institutions linked to this community.
The new team, called “Community Protection Team”, will be comprised of Metropolitan Police officers with experience in community patrolling, specialized protection and counter-terrorism. Its deployment seeks to provide a more coordinated and visible response to what the authorities describe as a sustained threat
.The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Mark Rowley, warned that Jewish communities in the city are being subject to risks from various actors, including extremist groups and radical left-wing sectors, Islamist terrorist organizations and even possible operations linked to hostile states. In this regard, the authorities are investigating whether some of the recent arson attacks could be related to activities promoted by Iran through criminal intermediaries
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Since the end of March, there have been several high-impact episodes, such as the burning of four ambulances belonging to Jewish organizations and attacks on synagogues in different parts of the British capital. Added to this is a knife attack that occurred in the Golders Green neighborhood, where two Jewish men were stabbed in an act that is being treated as a terrorist act. Both victims survived
.Official figures reflect the magnitude of the problem. During April, 140 anti-Semitic hate crimes were registered, a significant increase from 98 cases in March and 67 in February. The district of Barnet was the most affected, with 51 incidents, accounting for more than a third of the total. This area is home to important Jewish communities, especially in areas such as Golders Green, Hendon and Finchley, where several of the recent attacks have occurred
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer, recently convened leaders from different sectors, including business, health and culture, to coordinate strategies to combat anti-Semitism and strengthen social
cohesion.In terms of funding, the British government has allocated a package of 25 million pounds to reinforce security, of which 18 million were allocated to the London police. These resources have made it possible to increase police presence by funding approximately 1,000 additional shifts per week, mostly through overtime and redeployment of personnel
.The Metropolitan Police said that, although the new unit will initially focus on protecting the Jewish community, its structure could serve as a model for responding to similar threats against other vulnerable communities.
The authorities warned that, despite the measures taken, it will be necessary to maintain long-term sustained investment to ensure the effectiveness of the response and preserve security in a context of complex and changing threats.
