Thousands of people gathered outside Downing Street on Sunday to protest an increase in antisemitic hate crimes and violence, as senior politicians and interfaith leaders called for unity.

The Standing Strong: Extinguish Antisemitism rally, backed by more than 30 Jewish groups, drew thousands of people to Whitehall, as Conservative and Liberal Democrat party leaders, alongside Labour and Reform representatives, addressed a crowd studded with Israeli and union jack flags and ‘Where is Keir?’ placards.

The rally was organised in response to a marked increase in antisemitic hate crimes and violence, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green on 29 April. Suspected terrorist Essa Suleiman has been charged with attempted murder in relation to the stabbings.

Labour’s Pat McFadden was met with boos and shouts of “Where is Starmer?” as he took to the stage. The work and pensions secretary said: “I hear your anger, I hear your pain, I stand against antisemitism, I stand with you.” There were also boos for the Liberal Democrats’ Ed Davey, while the Conservative party leader, Kemi Badenoch, and the Reform UK deputy leader, Richard Tice, were mostly greeted with cheers and applause.

Ahead of the rally, British Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Hindu and Zoroastrian religious leaders signed an open letter describing antisemitism as “a problem for all of us to fix”.

Strict security measures were in place around Whitehall as protesters passed through metal detectors and encountered a visible security presence. Among those attending was 91-year-old Lionel Blumenthal, who travelled from Golders Green, north London, to show solidarity against antisemitism.

“I’m angry and horrified, this is not the country I grew up in, I no longer feel safe,” said Blumenthal, who said the mood in his north London area has been one of anger, worry and uncertainty over the future. “It means I have to be that much more cautious than I was before, I can’t take for granted my security, my safety.”

He added: “I think it’s important that all sections of the British community and particularly of the politicians should come together and denounce antisemitism.”

After the north London attack, the UK’s terrorism threat level was raised to “severe” by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, indicating an attack was considered highly likely. In April, the number of antisemitic hate crimes in London reached its highest level in two years, according to data from the Metropolitan police, which recently committed to deploying 100 extra officers to protect Jewish communities.

“I’m not here to do politics today,” Badenoch told the crowd. The Conservative leader drew parallels between the “same terror” of the 7 October 2023 attack in Israel and the kidnapping of schoolgirls in her birthplace Nigeria in 2014.

“I am most worried about the growth of extremism and terror around the world,” she said. “I stand with you, millions stand with you, Britain has been a sanctuary for Jewish people and it must always be.”

The Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, said “we are going to fight to make sure people do feel safe in our country” as he called for changes to the Prevent counter-terrorism programme, a zero-tolerance approach from police toward antisemitism and the proscription of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Reform’s Tice was cheered as he accused Labour of an “absence of courage, of leadership”, adding that “the scourge of antisemitism has been allowed to flourish in our country”.

Attenders who spoke to the Guardian called for an increased security presence for the Jewish community, and an end to “hate marches” in London, referring to pro-Palestinian supporters who have taken to the capital’s streets calling for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza.

One of those in the crowd, Geraldine Hoynicki, said that as a member of the Jewish community she has never felt unsafe in her 72 years, until this year. “Because there have been so many unfortunate incidents against Jews, and it continues,” said Hoynicki.

The Northampton resident said the prime minister should have attended the rally, though believed it “unlikely” because “he’s too busy worrying about his backside”. She said the government has not done “nearly enough” to combat antisemitism, but said “they are showing willingness”, adding, “that is something we have to be grateful for”.

Ahead of the rally, a letter with more than 2,000 signatories called on the organisers to withdraw an invitation to the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, and ensure the event would reflect values of “inclusion and solidarity”.

Organisers defended the decision to invite Farage, citing Reform’s increased presence in parliament and “broad support” in fighting antisemitism, adding: “There was no way we would not invite them.” The Green party leader, Zack Polanski, was not invited by organisers, on the basis of allegations he has not done enough to root out antisemitism from the party – a view echoed by some at the rally on Sunday.

A Green party spokesperson said antisemitism requires a cross-party effort and for politicians to reduce tensions rather than escalate them, adding: “It does feel like the world is upside down when Reform are invited to be part of an initiative to tackle antisemitism but the Green party – and its Jewish leader – aren’t.”

For London resident Eliza Black, 26, the focus on which politicians were invited missed the point of the rally.

“We’re coming here because there was a stabbing two weeks ago, it doesn’t really matter who is and who isn’t invited,” said Black, “because then it becomes a political issue, that then becomes party politics. This is a human right – about tolerance, about being able to be religious, identify as being Jewish and feel safe to walk down the streets.”

“It shouldn’t matter who is and who isn’t invited,” she said. “It’s about remembering why we’re here today.”