UK police probe arson at ex-synagogue as PM decries antisemitism 'crisis'

UK police say they are investigating a new arson incident targeting London's Jewish community, as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer holds talks on responding to a spate of antisemitic attacks.

Sir Keir gathered community groups, government ministers and police chiefs to his official Downing Street office for talks on a response to what he called a "crisis" following several antisemitic attacks in Britain's capital in recent weeks.

In the latest incident, firefighters were called to a former synagogue in east London early on Tuesday, where a blaze caused minor damage, the capital's Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

There have been several incidents recently, notably in the Golders Green area of north London, which is home to a large Jewish community.

Last week two Jewish men were stabbed and injured in the street. A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

In March, an arson attack in the same neighbourhood destroyed four ambulances run by the Hatzola Jewish charity.

Bottles suspected of containing petrol have been thrown at two synagogues in separate incidents.

A little-known group, the Iran-linked Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya (HAYI), has claimed responsibility for almost all the attacks, according to SITE Intelligence Group.

The group has also claimed attacks in other European countries.

Surging Greens party accused of antisemitism

Sir Keir told Tuesday's meeting that he would rush through new legislation to tackle "malign threats".

"Our message to Iran or to any other country that might seek to promote violence, hatred or division in society is that it will not be tolerated," he said.

"We're clear-eyed about the fact that antisemitism does not have one source alone: Islamists, far left, far right extremism, all target Jewish communities," he said.

The issue is dominating the run-up to local elections later this week, with the governing Labour Party accusing some candidates from the insurgent left-wing Greens of having made antisemitic comments.

Labour is expected to lose swathes of councillors to the Greens and other parties in Thursday's local council polls, particularly in London, as left-wing voters, many angry over the Gaza war, desert it for progressive alternatives.

In recent days, Labour has stepped up attacks on the Green party, led by self-styled "eco-populist" Zack Polanski, over alleged antisemitic comments by some members.

Last month, two Green party candidates in London were arrested on suspicion of stirring up racial hatred over alleged antisemitic social media posts. They no longer appears as candidates.

Government minister Steve Reed said on Tuesday the Greens had been "taken over by a lot of the hard-left people that were kicked out of Labour for antisemitism".

A Green party spokesperson on Tuesday accused Labour of being "desperate".

"Out of more than 4,500 candidates, a handful have made deeply offensive comments and they are no longer supported by the Green Party," the spokesperson added.