London’s Jewish community is bolstering defences against the threat of a chemical or biological weapons attack, The Standard has been told.
The moves come after a series of arson strikes in north London and the stabbing of two people in Golders Green.
The UK terrorism threat level has been raised to “severe” in the wake of the knife rampage meaning a terror attack is “highly likely”.
A senior MP warned of a growing risk of a larger scale terror strike on Jewish sites in the capital if, as suspected, Iran is behind the recent spate of attacks.
Ministers are also being urged to step up security at civilian sites where nuclear material is stored to avoid it being stolen to be used in a “dirty bomb”.
After synagogues in London and other parts of Britain were targeted in car and van attacks, bollards were put in place as protective measures.
The Standard understands that there is now a programme underway to protect synagogues in London from a gas or other chemical weapons attack.
This work could include ensuring doors and windows are properly sealed to stop gas leaking into a building.
Equipment to deal with potential chemical exposure, as well as kits designed to stem heavy bleeding, have been sent to synagogues in London.
Conservative MP David Simmonds, chair of the All-party Parliamentary Group on British Jews, told The Standard: “As a result of countries like Iran and online radicalisation access to chemical and biological weapons is becoming easier and the risk of harm to large numbers of people is greater.
“It’s right that our synagogues with the support of the police are working to ensure the safety of their congregations.”
Mr Simmonds, who represents Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, and other London MPs are urging the Government to step up action to protect the capital’s Jewish community.
It came as the Met Police was continuing its investigation into Wednesday’s Golders Green stabbings after confirming the alleged attacker was known to the Prevent programme.
The suspect, named by media as Essa Suleiman, was reported to the Government’s anti-extremism programme in 2020 but the case was closed the same year.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre announced on Thursday The UK terrorism threat level had been raised.
The decision is not solely a result of the Golders Green attack, the Home Office said, adding that the terrorist threat level in the UK has been “rising for some time, driven by an increase in broader Islamist and extreme right-wing terrorist threat from individuals and small groups based in the UK”.
It also comes against a backdrop of “increased state-linked physical threats which is encouraging acts of violence, including against the Jewish community”, it added.
Meanwhile security minister Dan Jarvis said people would have died in the incident if police had not rushed to tackle the suspected knifeman.
"We saw real bravery from officers on the ground that undoubtedly saved lives." he told Times Radio.
The alleged knifeman was involved in a prior “altercation” with another person in south London earlier in the day, police believe.
The Met said officers were called to an address in Great Dover Street, Southwark, at around 8.50am, after a suspect armed with a knife is believed to have had an altercation with the occupant before leaving.
The occupant suffered minor injuries, but the suspect was not found and officers believe he is the same man arrested in Golders Green.
Police also revealed they have been searching a property in south-east London following the stabbings on Wednesday.
Two Jewish men, Shilome Rand, 34, and 76-year-old Mosche Ben Baila, named locally as Moshe Shine, were taken to hospital after being stabbed in Golders Green.
The 45-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the victims, aged 76 and 34, were stabbed shortly after 11am in Highfield Avenue.
Mr Rand told ITV: “People are really afraid, people are uncomfortable walking in the streets.
“People are blaming obviously the Government. You know they aren’t doing anything about what’s going on for the past few months.”
On Thursday evening dozens of protesters gathered outside Downing Street to demand the Prime Minister tackles antisemitism.
Stephen Silverman, the CAA’s director of investigations and enforcement, said British Jews “worry about their safety” in the UK.
“We have seen no meaningful action which has consequences playing out before our eyes,” Mr Silverman said.
The victims were said by the Metropolitan Police to be in a stable condition.
The suspected knifeman, a British national who was born in Somalia, was Tasered as he attempted to stab police officer.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the man had “a history of serious violence and mental health issues”.
Mr Jarvis said attacks on the Jewish community in London had spiralled to “an absolute point of challenge”.
He confirmed a further £25 million to increase security for the Jewish community and said new legislation to proscribe state actors would be rushed through Parliament, with Iran suspected of being behind the string of attacks.
Mr Jarvis said: "We take the threat from Iran incredibly seriously."
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is believed to be linked to a shadowy group called Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, the Islamic Movement of the Companions of the Right which has claimed responsibility for several of the attacks on Jewish sites in London.
Mr Simmonds stressed that if Iran is involved then the capital is facing a bigger threat.
“There is a clear risk from states that have established chemical and biological weapons programmes of these being provided to terrorist organisations to use against the UK,’” he said.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called for “meaningful action” to tackle the “root causes” of antisemitism, while the Board of Deputies of British Jews said antisemitism must be “confronted, punished and deterred with the full force of the state”.
The Israeli foreign ministry warned that anti-semitism in Britain was now “out of control” and called for stronger action.
“After attacks on synagogues, Jewish institutions, community ambulances and now Jews targeted in Golders Green, the UK Government can no longer claim this is under control,” it said.
Sir Keir Starmer condemned the Golders Green incident as “utterly appalling”.
At a meeting of law and order chiefs in No10, the Prime Minister stressed that the criminal justice response to the suspected terror attack in north London must be “swift, agile and visible”.
He said the Government and agencies must “come together very quickly” to step up protection for London’s Jewish community. He was later heckled by crowds as he visited Golders Green.
Hornsey and Friern Barnet Labour MP Catherine West praised the police response and welcomed the extra £25 million for increased more patrols and security.
But she also stressed the need for a “whole of Government” response including proscribing the IRGC, better enforcement of online antisemitic hate speech, more community level interfaith dialogue, and education in schools, colleges, and universities on the dangers of antisemitism, extremism and hate speech.
The Prime Minister is also facing pressure to ban pro-Palestinian marches.
Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said it was currently “impossible” for such marches not to “incubate” antisemitism.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) organised the rally after two Jews were stabbed in Golders Green on Wednesday.
Speaking to protesters in Whitehall, some of whom held Israeli flags, Stephen Silverman, the CAA’s director of investigations and enforcement, said British Jews “worry about their safety” in the UK.
“We have seen no meaningful action which has consequences playing out before our eyes,” Mr Silverman said.
“This Government has appeased this fanatical hatred. They gaslit us.
“Patriotic British Jews now worry about their safety each and every day and question their future in this country.
“Prime Minister, how are you going to deal with this? Prime Minister, what is your plan?”
