The Metropolitan Police has said it will be increasing police presence and carrying out additional patrols in Jewish areas over the next few days, following today’s terror attack at Bondi Beach, Australia that has claimed 11 lives and injured 29.
The Met said it is an “awful reality” that Jewish communities worldwide face a “higher level of threat”. The JC understands that a number of officers were dispatched to Chabad and Jewish sites in London this morning.
Although there is “no information to suggest any link between the attack in Sydney and the threat level in London,” the Met said in a statement, “this morning we are stepping up our police presence, carrying out additional community patrols and engaging with the Jewish community to understand what more we can do in the coming hours and days.”
The Met added that the “thoughts of all of us at the Metropolitan Police are with the loved ones of those who have been killed or injured in the terrible attack in Sydney earlier today and with the emergency services who responded.”
The force continued, “At a time when London’s Jewish communities are coming together to begin the celebration of Hannukah, we know this attack will be the cause of not just terrible upset but also significant heightened concern about safety.
"We were already working closely with partners, including the Community Security Trust, to provide an increased presence around synagogues and other community venues at this important time.”
The Met said that 999 should always be called in an emergency.
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