After Stabbings, UK Says It Faces Antisemitism Emergency

The UK government declared Thursday that the country is facing an antisemitism emergency and pledged to increase security for Jewish communities after a string of arson attacks and a double stabbing that have sparked fear and anger among Jews. The country's official terror threat level was raised from substantial to severe after Wednesday's stabbing attack in London, which police have called an act of terrorism with potential links to Iran. Severe is the second-highest rung on a five-point scale, the AP reports, and means intelligence agencies consider an attack highly likely in the next six months.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that his government "will do everything in our power to stamp this hatred out" after two Jewish men, ages 34 and 76, were seriously injured in a stabbing in Golders Green, an area in north London that is an epicenter of Britain's Jewish community. Some in the community turned their anger on the government, which they say is failing to tackle antisemitism. Starmer was heckled when he visited Golders Green on Thursday. The government said the increased threat level was not solely a result of the stabbings but also due to increased danger "from Islamist and extreme right-wing terrorist threat from individuals and small groups based in the UK."