‘Won’t be tolerated’: Starmer warns Iran as UK probes foreign influence amid rising antisemitic attacks

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a stern warning that any attempts by Iran to “incite antisemitism or destabilise British society” will not be tolerated, as the UK government investigates possible foreign involvement in a series of recent hate-linked attacks. Speaking at a high-level summit in Downing Street with leaders from politics, policing, education, business, and the arts, Starmer said the government was “fast-tracking legislation” to counter what he described as “malign threats” and rising antisemitism in the country, Sky News reported.

‘Foreign state’ angle under investigation

Starmer confirmed that security agencies are exploring whether a foreign state could be behind or influencing some of the recent incidents targeting Jewish communities.

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“One of the lines of inquiry is whether a foreign state has been behind some of these incidents,” he said, adding that “all possibilities are being investigated”. He warned: “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.”

Security tightened after attacks in London

Starmer’s warning comes after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green in north London last week in what police have declared a terror-related incident. The victims sustained serious injuries and are being treated in hospital. In a separate incident on the same day, another attempted murder was reported in Southwark, while counter-terrorism officers are also investigating a suspected arson attack at a former synagogue in Whitechapel. Previous attacks included incidents targeting ambulances linked to Jewish emergency volunteers and suspected arson at community memorial sites,

Government to strengthen anti-extremism framework

Earlier, Starmer said antisemitism in the UK is “growing, real and dangerous” and not confined to a single source. “Islamists, far-right, and far-left extremism all target Jewish communities,” he said, stressing the need for a coordinated national response. He announced an additional £1.5 million in funding to improve community cohesion and increase protection for Jewish communities in high-risk areas. The UK PM also indicated that new anti-terror legislation is being prepared to allow the government to take stronger action against state-linked threats. This could include powers to ban organisations accused of supporting or sponsoring violence abroad. The move follows renewed calls from sections of the Jewish community to proscribe Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which Western governments have long accused of sponsoring terrorism.

Rising pressure on government response

The summit comes amid growing criticism from Jewish community leaders, who say government action against antisemitism has been too slow. Starmer himself faced protests during a recent visit to Golders Green. Despite this, he reiterated that the government is “clear-eyed” about the scale of the challenge and committed to confronting extremism “in all its forms” through a national cohesion strategy.

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