Jewish community ‘living in fear’ after sunshine and school vandal attacks

Members of a synagogue targeted by antisemitic vandalism have said they ‘fear for their safety’ and called for bolstered security measures.

The synagogue in Golders Green, London, was one of the Jewish targets of a man who daubed faeces and hurled urine across buildings.

The police and Mayor Sadiq Khan have condemned the vandalism and vowed to crack down on racially aggravated crime.

A Jewish nursery school was among the buildings hit in a string of four connected incidents of vandalism.

Faeces and urine were flung at the sites, with worshippers and schoolchildren confronted by the filthy aftermath of the attacks.

A member of one of the synagogues targeted close to the centre of Golders Green told Metro there were heightened fears over safety amid the escalating crisis in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.

He said: ‘We live in fear. This is a very worrying incident for us. We ask ourselves, what will come next?

‘With heightening tensions, we are worried for our families. This is a horrible act and we live in frightening times.

‘We need the authorities to protect us. We have cameras but more community safety measures would help.

‘Things are getting worse for sure, with racial hatred shouted from cars as we walk along, minding our business. We are worried sick.’

Footage released shows a man with a plastic bag casually walking up to the synagogue.

A shopkeeper near the synagogue said the Jewish community felt ‘under siege’.

He said: ‘Myself and my customers, many who use the synagogue, face a barrage of abuse. This incident is just one of many we face on a daily basis.

‘It’s so disgusting to deface a place of worship like this. The police are taking the issue seriously, but even so, a lot of us have had to invest in improved cameras and security, etc, against this tide of intimidation.’

A mother of two dropping her children off at a Jewish school told Metro: ‘I walk to school with my kids because I fear for their safety.

‘It never used to be the case – there is open antisemitism on the streets, we need more police officers around. These bullies need to be brought to justice.’

A spokesperson for Sadiq Khan said: ‘The Mayor is appalled by the recent disgusting antisemitic attacks in Golders Green and is clear that antisemitism has no place in London. It is right that the Met Police are investigating these horrendous series of incidents and doing everything they can to reassure the local community.

‘Officers have released an image and CCTV footage of a man they would like to speak to in connection with all of the incidents.’

Detective Superintendent Katie Harber, who is leading the investigation, described the attacks as ‘revolting’.

‘We are very aware of how distressing these offences have been for those who have been targeted. We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour,’ she said.

The attacks were originally reported to the Met by Shomrim, a community policing team in the Jewish community.

Police were initially called out to a report of ‘religiously motivated criminal damage’ on the synagogue on the morning of Wednesday, September 3. Three further incidents, including vandalism at a school, were reported in the following days.

A Shomrim spokesperson said: ‘It’s utterly disgusting and those responsible must be caught and brought to justice. Nobody should have to face such hatred when going to pray or at their home.’

A 37-year-old man has since been arrested in the Hendon area on suspicion of religiously motivated criminal damage in connection with the seven offences. He was taken into custody, where he remains.

Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said: ‘This is a significant development in our investigation following substantial CCTV enquiries by officers.

‘We remain in close contact with the local Jewish community as we continue to provide our support and reassurance.’

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