UK security warning over fears Middle East bloodshed could spill over

A large-scale security operation has been launched in the UK amid fears of violence in the wake of increased bloodshed in the Middle East.

The risk of attacks on the Jewish community has escalated amid the conflict and ahead of Monday's anniversary of the October 7 Hamas assault on Israel, a charity warned on Wednesday. In a security notice issued to Britain’s synagogues, the Community Security Trust said that “Hezbollah and Iran have a long record of terrorist attacks against Diaspora Jewish communities”, and urged strict security procedures. This includes being especially alert for “suspicious people and activities” and ensuring that “all stakeholders know how to lock down and barricade” in case of emergency.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are expected to march in central London on Saturday. The Metropolitan Police is understood to be in contact with the organisers of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign. A vigil and remembrance event organised by the Jewish Leadership Council is due to be held on the same day.

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The CST said more than 5,500 antisemitic incidents have been recorded in the UK since Hamas attacked Israel 12 months ago. Chief Executive of the CST, which provides security for Jewish communal organisations, Mark Gardner, said: “We will be working in partnership with police up and down the country to keep synagogues and communal areas safe, which is our number one priority. Remember if you see anything suspicious, report it to police and CST immediately.”

The warning comes ahead of the start of the Jewish New Year on Wednesday night and Monday's anniversary, where the terrorists killed 1,200 people and captured more than 230 hostages. It also comes as tensions soar in the Middle East after Iran fired nearly 200 missiles at Israel in response to the country launching raids against Hezbollah in Lebanon. In a release, CST said most antisemitic incidents took the form of abusive behaviour, with 4,583 recorded incidents since last October.

One incident of what it described as "extreme violence" was recorded. The majority of incidents were recorded in London (3,167), while 729 were recorded in Manchester and 642 in West Yorkshire. There were 1,400 incidents in October 2023 alone, the charity said, and more than 200 have been recorded every month since then.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to fight the "resurgence of antisemitism". In a speech at a Holocaust Education Trust appeal dinner last month, he said his Government "will not shy away from this", adding: "We will not be silent. We will not look the other way." He told those in attendance: "We will call out antisemitism for what it is: hatred pure and simple.

"And we will fight this with everything that we have got. Just as I fought to bring my party back from the abyss of antisemitism, I promise you I will do the same in leading the country."

He also pledged to make sure every child in England learns about the Holocaust by making it a mandatory topic in schools and committed to allocating £2.2 million to the Lessons From Auschwitz project. The project offers students and teachers a course to increase understanding of the Holocaust, including a visit to the Nazi concentration camp in Poland and hearing the first-hand experiences of survivors.