Hundreds of angry protesters marched through Golders Green on Wednesday evening, branding Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer a “Jew harmer” after two Jewish men were stabbed in a terrorist attack in the north London suburb. At least 150 demonstrators took to Golders Green Road, waving Israeli and Union flags as they chanted “Keir Starmer, Jew harmer,” “Long live Israel” and “No to Jew hate” through a megaphone.
Some also shouted “IRGC terrorists, UK put them on the list” and directed criticism at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, reported The Telegraph. Police at the scene faced heckling from the crowd. The protest erupted hours after the morning stabbing on Golders Green Road near a synagogue. Two Jewish men — one aged 76 and the other 34 — were seriously injured when a man armed with a knife targeted Jewish members of the public.
Jewish community security group Shomrim intervened, helping to detain the suspect before armed officers arrived and tasered him. The Metropolitan Police declared the incident a terrorist attack and confirmed counter-terrorism officers are leading the investigation.
Both victims received immediate treatment from Hatzola, the Jewish volunteer ambulance service, and were taken to hospital where they are in stable condition. A 45-year-old suspect, who has a history of serious violence and mental health issues, remains in custody on suspicion of attempted murder.
The demonstration reflected deep frustration within Golders Green’s large Orthodox Jewish community over what many see as the government’s failure to adequately protect them amid a surge in antisemitic incidents. The stabbing follows a series of recent arson attacks on Jewish targets in north London, including one on Hatzola ambulances.
Sir Keir condemned the attack as “utterly appalling” and an antisemitic terrorist incident. He chaired an emergency COBRA meeting and said attacks on the Jewish community are attacks on Britain as a whole and later vowed to tackle the “root causes of extremism and antisemitism” and announced plans to meet criminal justice agencies to ensure swift justice. He added that his thoughts were with the victims and praised the response of Shomrim and emergency services.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has previously highlighted a “grave” rise in threats from Iran and hostile states against the UK Jewish community, though it remains too early to determine any specific link in this case.
Community figures and protesters expressed fury that Jewish areas continue to face repeated violence despite repeated government assurances. The chants directly targeted Starmer, accused him of insufficient action to safeguard the community.
The incident has intensified concerns about security for Britain’s Jewish population, which has reported record levels of antisemitic abuse and attacks in recent years, particularly since the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault on Israel and the ensuing conflict in Gaza. Golders Green, home to a significant Haredi and Orthodox Jewish population, has become a focal point for such tensions.
As investigations continue into the attacker’s background and any potential ideological or international connections, the visible anger on the streets of Golders Green underscores the community’s demand for stronger protection and decisive government action against rising extremism.
