The head of the Metropolitan Police has warned Jewish people face a 'ghastly Venn diagram' of anti-Semitic hate - as a victim of the Golders Green stabbings told how he came mere centimetres from death.
Sir Mark Rowley said on Friday British Jews are experiencing their greatest ever threat, with anti-Semitism becoming increasingly prevalent in a social media-driven age.
The Met Commissioner's stark warning came just two days after a stabbing in Golders Green, north London, which left two Jewish men - Moshe Shine, 76, and Shloime Rand, 34 - wounded on Wednesday.
Survivor Mr Rand said the blade came just 'two centimetres' from his heart.
The father-of-six told the Mirror there is 'too much negativity over Israel' and 'negative thoughts about our community', which he believes is fuelling rising anti-Semitism in the UK.
Mr Rand, a mortgage broker, added he did not want a visit from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, insisting he did not want Sir Keir nor 'any of his colleagues to come here and pay lip service'.
The incident - after which Sir Mark was heckled with calls to resign by furious bystanders - is the latest in a string of attacks targeting the Jewish community.
Sir Mark has now said: 'Every racist, extremist or terrorist group has a list of people they hate, because they all create an "other" who they want to blame everything on.
Sir Mark Rowley said on Friday British Jews are experiencing their greatest ever threat, with anti-Semitism becoming increasingly prevalent in a social media-driven age Pictured: Sir Rowley and Sir Keir attended a meeting of criminal justice agencies following the Golders Green attack
An aerial photo of the Met commissioner addressing reporters at Golders Green on Wednesday
'The ghastly fact is that Jews are on everybody's list - across all of those hateful groups. Whether you're extreme right, extreme left, an Islamist terrorist, a right-wing terrorist, or even hostile states, including Iranian-linked threats - there's a ghastly Venn diagram with Jews at the centre.'
He said the rise of a 'social media-led' news ecosystem meant more people were forming views from 'non-traditional sources' - adding that anti-Semitism was 'becoming more and more mainstream'.
Sir Mark also revealed he urged the Prime Minister to release urgent funding to recruit 300 officers to help protect the Jewish community, including plans for a dedicated policing unit to patrol north-west London.
On Thursday the UK's terrorism threat level was raised to 'severe' in the wake of the stabbings - meaning an attack is now considered 'highly likely'.
Sir Mark also defended two officers who detained the suspect, after they faced online criticism and accusations of heavy-handedness - claims echoed by Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
Footage circulating on social media appeared to show officers kicking the 45-year-old suspect in the head after using a Taser to bring him to the ground.
Mr Polanski faced fierce backlash - including from the Met Commissioner, the Prime Minister and figures within his own party - after sharing a post accusing officers of acting 'violently'.
Officers kick the Golders Green suspect in the head after Tasering him. They were helped by a passer-by (right)
Sir Mark revealed he has urged the Prime Minister to release urgent funding to recruit 300 officers to help protect the Jewish community, including plans for a dedicated policing unit to patrol north-west London
Sir Mark told the Times: 'One of the Taser shots has connected, but he's still not giving up the knife. It's pretty obvious the sort of suspicion they're going to have — that he may have an explosive device.'
He added he spoke to the officers two hours after the incident, saying: 'It's very traumatic for them. They've got to live with that.'
The Prime Minister earlier defended the officers on BBC Radio 4's Today programme. He said: 'There's a guy on the ground, he's got a rucksack on.
'I don't know what was going through the minds of those officers, but if I were there, I'd be thinking he's going to detonate something - he's going to blow me up and everybody around.
'In those circumstances, you can see why they would think they need to do whatever they can to disable him.'
Sir Keir also branded Mr Polanski 'disgraceful' and 'not fit to lead any political party' for reposting the criticism.
After mounting pressure for more than 24 hours, the Green Party leader apologised for 'sharing a tweet in haste', but swiftly hit back.
Responding to a clip of the Prime Minister's remarks, he said: 'Yesterday in Hastings, in the wake of antisemitic attacks in Golders Green, I faced Nazi salutes.
Mr Polanski was under pressure for more than 24 hours to apologise for sharing a social media post accusing officers of heavy-handedness during the incident on Wednesday
'Today, the Prime Minister uses his office to attack the only Jewish party leader to score political points.'
Mr Polanski is expected to meet Sir Mark following the local elections on May 7 to discuss the row, the Met confirmed.
Earlier the Director of Public Prosecutions warned of a 'deeply troubling rise' in anti-Semitic incidents nationwide, vowing to use the 'full force of the law' against offenders.
The terrorism threat level was formally raised to 'severe' by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre following the Golders Green attack.
Suspect Essa Suleiman appeared in court on Friday charged with three counts of attempted murder - including allegedly attacking his own friend before stabbing two Jewish men, Mr Rand and Mr Shine.
Suleiman, who was born in Somalia and arrived in the UK as a child in the 1990s, was remanded in custody ahead of his next hearing at the Old Bailey on May 15.