Proxy attacks in UK a real and growing concern, says PM

Sir Keir Starmer highlighted that the employment of proxies by foreign nations to conduct assaults within the UK is a “growing concern” and a significant issue. During a visit to Kenton United Synagogue, which was bombarded with a petrol bomb on Saturday, he emphasized the role of these proxy groups—state-backed entities executing criminal actions—as a cause for alarm. The synagogue was one of several Jewish community landmarks attacked in the UK since late March, including a former Jewish charity and two other synagogues.

Attacks and Group Accountability

An Islamist faction with suspected Iranian ties, known as Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, took responsibility for the assault on Jewish community ambulances in north London, along with other incidents across the UK and Europe. Before the meeting, Saul Taylor, president of the United Synagogue, noted the Jewish community’s frustration with the government. “There’s been so much that’s been dragging,” he remarked, pushing for legislation to ban the IRGC. “I don’t know what they’re waiting for.” Taylor also criticized the heavy financial burden on synagogues, citing monthly security expenses of £20,000 as a “tax on being Jewish in Britain.”

“There’s been so much that’s been dragging,” said Saul Taylor, president of the United Synagogue. “I don’t know what they’re waiting for.”

Sir Keir reiterated the need to address “malign state actors” and stressed that the UK must tackle the use of proxies. “This context is critical,” he added, noting his rising concerns about nations using proxies to target the country. He pledged to introduce legislation “as quickly as possible” to outlaw the IRGC, following the lead of other European countries. Labour, prior to the 2024 election, had vowed to proscribe the IRGC but faced backlash for delays.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, present at the meeting, voiced the community’s anxiety after the attacks. He urged the prime minister to guarantee an end to antisemitism, insisting on “zero tolerance.” The rabbi also called for the banning of “all terrorist organisations, whether state sponsored or not.” Police investigations into the attacks continue, with a 17-year-old boy from Brent convicted of arson not endangering life at Kenton United Synagogue. Another teenager was arrested and released on bail, while two suspects remain at large.

“I’ve come here to stand with you,” Sir Keir told the attendees. “The Britain I want is a Britain where people can practice their religion, their faith, in safety and security.”

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, described the assaults as “determined and intimidatory” acts against British Jews. He urged the public to share the same outrage toward these attacks as they would for assaults on other groups based on race or faith. The boy, who climbed the synagogue wall, smashed a window, and hurled a petrol bomb, caused smoke damage to an internal room. His conviction marks the first legal action in a series of attacks targeting Jewish buildings and a dissident Persian media company.