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UK Raises Terror Threat Level After Stabbing Attack
Britain elevated its official terror threat level to severe following a stabbing attack on two Jewish men in London, amid a surge in antisemitic incidents. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for tougher action against certain chants at pro-Palestinian protests. Police described the attack as terrorism and charged a 45-year-old man with attempted murder.
The IndependentAudio version
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Britain raised its official terror threat level from substantial to severe following a stabbing attack on two Jewish men in London's Golders Green neighborhood, which police classified as an act of terrorism. The elevation to severe, the second-highest level on a five-point scale, indicates that intelligence agencies consider an attack highly likely in the next six months.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that tougher action is needed against people chanting certain phrases at pro-Palestinian protests. He said he would always defend the right to protest but indicated there may be instances where some marches protesting the war in Gaza should be banned.
“When you see, when you hear some of those chants — ‘globalize the intifada’ would be one I would pick out — then clearly there should be tougher action in relation to that,” Starmer told the BBC. In an interview broadcast on Saturday, Starmer added that banning some pro-Palestinian marches could be justified, especially when they call for the intifada to spread.
The stabbing occurred on Wednesday in Golders Green, home to a large Jewish community, where two Jewish men were wounded.
A 45-year-old man was charged on Friday with attempted murder in connection with the attack. A 45-year-old British national who was born in Somalia was remanded in custody after the Golders Green stabbing.
It followed recent arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites in London. Mark Rowley, head of the Metropolitan Police, warned on Friday that British Jews are facing their greatest ever threat. Rowley said social media is making antisemitism more mainstream than before.
