Counter-terrorism officers in London have launched 11 investigations and arrested 35 people after “a sustained period of attack” upon the Jewish community, the head of the UK’s biggest police force has disclosed.
In one of his most stark comments on antisemitism in the UK Mark Rowley, the Met commissioner, told MPs in a letter: “British Jews are not currently safe in their capital city.”
The investigations, in which 10 people have been charged, include the attack on 29 April in Golders Green, in which two British Jews were stabbed, an arson attack on an ambulance and nine other incidents.
The letter was disclosed as King Charles visited Golders Green, in north-west London, on Thursday and met victims of the stabbings last month in a show of support to the community.
In a letter to the Commons home affairs select committee on Wednesday, Rowley wrote: “Over the last six weeks Jewish Londoners have been under a sustained period of attack.
“This has included the attack on a Hatzola ambulance on 23 March, nine other arson/attempted arson attacks, and most significantly the terrorist attack on 29 April in Golders Green, in which two British Jews were stabbed. British Jews are not currently safe in their capital city. This is unacceptable.
“In total, Counter Terrorism Policing is leading 11 investigations, including those relating to the arsons, the Golders Green terrorist attack, and a further investigation into several discarded items discovered in Kensington Gardens. Across these investigations, we have made 35 arrests. Ten individuals have been charged and one has been convicted to date.”
At the Jewish Care charity centre in Golders Green Charles met victims Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Ben Baila, 76, also known as Norman Shine, along with the chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, Ephraim Mirvis, and Rowley.
The chief rabbi told the king they “appreciate it enormously” that he had made the visit.
The king also spoke with members of the Jewish community police force Shomrim, who were involved in responding to the attacks on 29 April.
Shine, who was stabbed in the neck outside a bus stop during the attack, spoke about the “genuine warmth” he had felt from the king.
He said: “He was very concerned. The most inspiring thing was that he didn’t let go of my hand, I mean it was amazing, He is the king but I felt a genuine warmth and concern.”
He said that the visit felt “extremely important” for the whole Jewish community.
“We feel we have a genuine friend in the king,” he added.
After the meeting, Charles greeted the crowds gathered outside the charity centre on Golders Green Road and was presented with a loaf of traditional challah bread outside Grodz bakery on the high street. He also spoke to children from a local primary school.
The alleged Golders Green attacker Essa Suleiman, 45, has been remanded in custody accused of three counts of attempted murder.
Suleiman is accused of trying to kill his friend of 20 years Ishmail Hussein at his home in Southwark before stabbing the two people in the street on 29 April.
Suleiman was born in Somalia and came to the UK legally as a child in the 1990s. He was reported to Prevent, the UK government’s anti-extremism programme, in 2020 but the case was closed the same year.