UK Chief Rabbi Flags ‘Sustained Campaign’ After London Synagogue Arson Attempt

Last Updated:April 19, 2026, 19:47 IST

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was 'appalled' by the incidents and promised action.

UK Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said on Sunday that “a sustained campaign of violence and intimidation against the Jewish community of the UK is gathering momentum," after an attempted arson attack on a London synagogue.

“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," he added.

The comments came after a fire attempt at Kenton United Synagogue in northwest London on Saturday night, which caused minor damage but no injuries. The incident is part of a series of recent attacks targeting Jewish-linked sites and a Persian-language media outlet critical of Iran.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was “appalled" by the incidents and promised action. “those responsible will be found and brought to justice," he said.

Police have stepped up security in the area. The Metropolitan Police said extra uniformed and plainclothes officers have been deployed in northwest London after several incidents over the past month.

Officials said the synagogue attack came a day after an attempt to set fire to bottles of liquid outside the former offices of a Jewish charity. No injuries have been reported in any of the incidents. Several suspects, from teenagers to people in their 40s, have been arrested and charged.

The cases are being investigated by counterterrorism officers due to similar patterns and online claims of responsibility. Some posts have been made in the name of Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which has also claimed involvement in attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands.

The group also shared a video claiming that Israel’s London embassy would be targeted with drones carrying dangerous substances. Police said no such attack took place, but nearby Kensington Gardens was closed as officers checked suspicious items. Nothing harmful was found.

The UK government has earlier accused Iran of using criminal proxies to carry out attacks in Europe targeting opposition groups and Jewish communities. Intelligence agency MI5 has said it disrupted more than 20 “potentially lethal" Iran-linked plots in the year up to October.

News world UK Chief Rabbi Flags ‘Sustained Campaign’ After London Synagogue Arson Attempt

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