Antisemitism is the UK’s most significant “national security emergency” since a pair of Islamic State-linked attacks hit the country in 2017, the government’s counter-terror tsar has warned.
Jonathan Hall KC, the government’s independent reviewer of counter-terrorism legislation, told the BBC that many British Jews feel that they “cannot live a normal life” in the face of the increasing prevalence of antisemitism.
"I don’t think I can think of a bigger national security emergency happening in the UK since 2017 in terms of the attacks in Manchester and London,” he said, referring to the Manchester Arena bombing and London Bridge car-ramming, responsibility for both of which was claimed at the time by Islamic State.
"And in fact, you might say it’s the biggest national emergency since Covid,” he said.
"There are Brits in London, in particular, Manchester, but probably all around the country, who are now thinking they cannot live a normal life. And it's not one attack, it's multiple attacks.”
He subsequently suggested to Times Radio that ministers should respond to such attacks with similar strength as the response to 2005’s 7/7 bombings.
He went on: "I go back in my mind to how the government then responded to 7/7... and I think the Prime Minister said that the rules of the game have changed.
"I think it’s perhaps fair to say that we are now at a point at which the government needs to start to take more risks as to what it’s prepared to do, and that it’s not simply enough to offer thoughts and prayers and to support the police investigation.”
It comes after communal leaders called for greater action to tackle antisemitism in the wake of the Golders Green stabbing, which left two Jewish men in hospital. Moshe Shine, 76, and Shlomo Rand, 34, are in stable condition.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis told the JC at the scene: “On this very road, close to this very point, two people who are visibly Jewish were attacked because they were visibly Jewish. What that means is Jewish people are not safe all the time.
"We do know that the vast majority of people are with us, the vast majority of British people are decent people with good values, and they also appreciate that the attack on Jews is an attack on everybody.
"But we need to hear far more voices of condemnation, we need to know that the whole nation is with us, which means the whole nation is with the nation, because all of Britain is under attack right now.”
A 45-year-old man is in police custody on suspicion of attempted murder.
The Met has confirmed that he is a British national born in Somalia, while the Home Secretary told the BBC that he came to the UK “lawfully as a child”. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley also confirmed that the suspect has a “history of serious violence and mental health issues”.
To get more news, click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.