LONDON — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has revealed that UK authorities are investigating whether a foreign state may have been behind recent antisemitic attacks, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green.
Speaking after convening leaders from across society to tackle antisemitism, Starmer said the government could not accept “a future where communities feel safer only behind higher walls.”
“Security is essential, but that is not enough. We must also deal with the forces that drive this hatred in the first place. So we’re confronting them directly,” he said.
“One of the lines of inquiry is whether a foreign state has been behind some of these incidents. We’re investigating, of course, all the possibilities. And we’re clear that these actions will have consequences if that proves to be the case.”
Starmer issued a direct warning to any country that might seek to foment violence in British society.
“Our message to Iran or to any other country that might seek to foment violence, hatred, or division in society is that it will not be tolerated. That is why we’re fast-tracking legislation to tackle these malign threats.”
He also emphasised that antisemitism does not have a single source.
“We are clear-eyed about the fact that antisemitism does not have one source alone. Islamist, far-left, far-right extremism all target Jewish communities. That is why this government has put in place the first coordinated national plan to strengthen cohesion and confront extremism in all of its forms.”
The recent attacks have left communities fearing for their safety and piled pressure on the governing Labour Party, particularly ahead of local elections on May 7.
The leader of the opposition Conservative Party has called antisemitism a “national emergency.”
The government has since raised the national terrorism threat level to “severe” and announced an additional £25 million in funding to bolster protection of the country’s estimated 290,000-strong Jewish community.
The meeting brought together representatives from business, civil society, health, culture, higher education, and policing to take part in discussions with members of the Jewish community, hosted by ministers.
Source: Reuters
