Starmer urged to decry ‘epidemic of hate’ after synagogue targeted in another attempted arson attack on Jewish property

It follows recent similar incidents in other parts of north London
A northwest London synagogue has been targeted in an attempted arson attack, the latest in a spate of incidents targeting Jewish properties.

Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow was the target of an attempted attack on Saturday night.

The Community Security Trust said the building sustained minor smoke damage to an internal room, but there were no injuries or significant structural damage.

The building is close to a school and children’s playground, and police were seen searching a black SUV nearby on Sunday morning.

The prime minister has been urged to decry what the president of the charity behind the synagogue has described as “an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate" after a series of arson or attempted arson attacks on Jewish property in the north London area in the past month .

Sir Keir Starmer described the incidents as “abhorrent”, writing on social media: “I am appalled by recent attempted antisemitic arson attacks in North London.

“This is abhorrent and it will not be tolerated.

Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain.

We are increasing visible policing and those responsible will be found and brought to justice.

We will not rest in the pursuit of perpetrators.”
A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust said: “We are aware of another attempted arson, this time targeting a synagogue in north London, following similar recent incidents targeting the Jewish community in Finchley, Golders Green and Hendon.

“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.”
Paul Taylor, president of the United Synagogue, the UK-wide charity that supports Jewish communities and provides infrastructure including the Kenton place of worship, said: "The prime minister should declare publicly what the Jewish community has known for some time: this is an epidemic of anti-Jewish hate".

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called it “a cowardly arson attack” and said that “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum”.

He added: “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.”
The incident came hours after the Metropolitan Police deployed extra resources to parts of northwest London as it treated an attempted arson on Friday night as an antisemitic hate crime.

On Friday evening, a man was seen approaching a row of shops in Hendon carrying a plastic bag later found to contain three bottles of fluid, placing it down, before lighting the items inside.

The man fled the scene when they failed to fully ignite.

The shopfront sustained minor damage and no injuries were reported.

A police cordon was in place around a building, said to be formerly used by the Jewish community, on Saturday afternoon.

Counter Terrorism Policing London is leading the investigation into the incident in Hendon, as well as probes into other attacks because of the “similar circumstances and online claims of responsibility”, the Met said.

On Wednesday, bottles, one thought to contain petrol, were placed near Finchley Reform Synagogue in Fallow Court Avenue, Finchley.

Officers said two people, who were wearing dark clothing and balaclavas, were seen approaching the synagogue just after midnight.

Neither of the bottles were ignited and the people fled the scene, the force added, with no damage or injuries reported.

This came after four Jewish community ambulances were torched in Golders Green in the early hours of 23 March.