At London Stabbing Scene, U.K. Prime Minister Booed as Jewish Community Demands Tough Action

Figures in the Jewish community in Britain called today (Thursday) on the British government "to start acting decisively against attacks targeting Jews in the United Kingdom." The call came after yesterday afternoon's attack in London, carried out by a 45-year-old assailant of Somali origin with British citizenship.

In the attack, on a path leading to a synagogue, Shloime Rand, 34, who was stabbed in the chest, and Moshe Shein, 76, who was stabbed in the neck, were moderately to seriously wounded. It occurred after long weeks of antisemitic violence against the Jewish community in Britain, acts that included arson and sabotage targeting synagogues, cultural centers, and the community's ambulances.

British police suspect that behind some of these actions stand criminal elements operated by Iran and serving as its proxies. Within the Jewish community, the British government was criticized for the way it is handling the wave of antisemitism.

The London police investigation indicates that the attacker was known to the government's anti-radicalization program, a program intended to prevent extremists from moving toward terrorism.

Today, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived to visit the scene of the attack. Demonstrators carrying Israeli and British flags shouted at him "Traitor" and "Keir Starmer, harming Jews." Yesterday, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner of London, Mark Rowley, also encountered boos there, and protesters hurled at him "Resign" and "Shame on you." Cries of "Shame on you" were also directed yesterday at London's Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan.

Leaders of the Jewish community in Britain have warned more than once during the past year that the pro-Palestinian demonstrations are fueling antisemitism. They are demanding that the government ban the "marches of hate" against Israel and Jews.