Police step up patrols after US attack and anti-semitic graffiti
POLICE patrols have been increased to protect the Jewish community after anti-semitic graffiti was daubed on a synagogue and shop fronts in London and an attack on a Hanukkah celebration in the United States.
The Metropolitan Police said there would be a greater presence in north London after the Star of David and “9 11” were painted on several premises.
In New York, five people were stabbed at the home of a rabbi on Saturday
night. Writing in The Daily Telegraph today, Norman Lebrecht, the author whose synagogue was attacked at the weekend, calls for “long closed” police stations to be reopened.
“Patrols must be seen and heard. People and places have to be protected. It’s dark out there, not only for Jews. We need to see more light,” he says.
The vandalism was condemned by Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, who
said anti-semitism was a “scourge on our society” that must be rooted out.
“I stand with all Jewish families and communities against this utterly appalling abuse. No one should have to live in fear,” Ms Patel said.
Insp Kev Hailes said: “Officers will be on patrol throughout the area in order to provide some reassurance to local communities. Please approach us if you have any questions or concerns.”
Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, said the abuse had made him “sick to my stomach”. The community “can expect to see more police patrols”, he added.
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, said it was “terrible” that Hanukkah had ended with “anti-semitic graffiti in London and horrific stabbings … in New York”, adding: “We send love and solidarity to Jewish communities.”
However, others criticised Labour’s leader for fuelling anti-semitism by failing to stamp it out in his party.
Oliver Cooper, the leader of Camden Conservatives and a councillor for Hampstead, who found the graffiti in nine places in the area, said: “I don’t know what has caused this incident, but it is very clear what has caused this uptick in anti-semitism conspiracy theories … that has been caused by the Labour Party and the leadership not taking that hatred seriously.”
A statement from the South Hampstead Synagogue, which was daubed in anti-semitic graffiti during the attack at numerous locations in the Hampstead and Belsize Park area, said “as a community, we regret the rise of hate speech in society”, adding: “This is a time for people of all backgrounds … to stand united and show our determination that we do not tolerate prejudice, hate and division.”
The Board of Deputies of British Jews wrote on Twitter that the attack was a “reminder that anti-semitism is still with us”.
After the stabbings in New York, Andrew Cuomo, the state governor, condemned the attack as “domestic terrorism”. The attack appeared to be the latest in a string targeting Jews, including a massacre at a kosher grocery store in New Jersey earlier this month.