Overview
- Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking Saturday on BBC Radio 4, urged prosecutions for chants such as “globalise the intifada” and said there could be instances where pro‑Palestine marches are stopped due to their cumulative impact on the Jewish community.
- The comments drew swift pushback, with the government’s antisemitism adviser Lord Mann calling it unconscionable to outlaw peaceful protests and Green leader Zack Polanski warning against new limits on non‑violent dissent, while Stop the War rejected links between marches and attacks.
- Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley warned British Jews face their greatest threat in decades and asked for urgent funding to recruit 300 officers, including a dedicated patrol unit in north‑west London, as police weigh conditions on upcoming protests such as a Nakba Day march and a Tommy Robinson rally.
- The UK terror threat level was raised to severe on Thursday, meaning an attack is highly likely, following Wednesday’s stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green that the Met is treating as terrorism.
- Prosecutors charged Essa Suleiman, 45, with three counts of attempted murder and a judge remanded him in custody ahead of an Old Bailey hearing, while both victims were discharged and senior leaders defended officers seen kicking the suspect, citing fears he might detonate a device.