Police increase patrols after vandals attack Gail’s Archway bakery again
Met steps up uniformed presence after bakery targeted twice in days amid concerns over intimidation
Police have increased uniformed patrols in Archway after a Gail’s Bakery branch was vandalised for a second time in less than a week, with officers investigating repeat criminal damage.
The bakery, on Junction Road, was targeted again in the early hours of Wednesday, when several windows were smashed and paint sprayed across the premises.
The Metropolitan Police said officers were called at around 1.12 am on Wednesday, 25 February. In a statement, a spokesperson said: “It is believed the offences were committed at around 01:12hrs, when several windows were smashed and paint sprayed at the business.
“Officers have attended the café today, Wednesday, 25 February, and spoken to staff. Enquiries are ongoing to establish whether the latest incident is linked to a similar incident of criminal damage on Wednesday, 18 February, when officers attended the business within minutes of it being reported to the police.”
Police said detectives have carried out extensive enquiries into the first incident, including reviewing CCTV and other footage, but confirmed that no arrests have been made at this stage.
The spokesperson added: “We recognise the impact that incidents of this nature have. We have increased uniformed patrols in the area and are working with the affected business.
“We will take an assertive and determined approach to dealing with antisemitism and other hate crimes, acting decisively against anyone who tries to use the cover of protest to cause fear and distress to Londoners.”
Gail’s chief executive and co-founder, Tom Molnar condemned the repeat vandalism and said staff safety was the company’s immediate priority.
He said: “Last night, our Archway bakery was once again the target of vandalism. Our bakeries are places of warmth, safety and community, and these repeated attempts to intimidate and endanger our colleagues, customers and business are completely unacceptable.
“We remain focused on playing a positive and meaningful role in feeding people better, and attempts to disrupt our commitments to the communities we serve are primarily unkind and ill-informed. Our immediate priority is to work closely with the relevant authorities to help ensure this does not happen again and provide reassurance to our bakery teams. As we have previously made clear, we are a British business with no links to any country or government outside the UK.”
The Archway branch was first targeted on the eve of its opening last week, when red paint and political slogans were daubed across the exterior following a protest outside the premises.
Footage from the earlier incident showed a Jewish bystander confronting demonstrators and questioning why a British business was being targeted with anti-Israel slogans. She later said she felt intimidated by the protest.
Jewish community organisations said the repeated targeting of the bakery reflected a wider pattern of intimidation rather than legitimate protest.
The Community Security Trust (CST) said: “Targeting a bakery for graffiti and protests simply because one of its founders was Israeli is racist, and any claims that Gail’s is linked to the Israeli state are completely spurious.
“Rather than legitimate political activism, this is a racist campaign that spreads hate on British streets and creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation.”
Campaign Against Antisemitism also condemned the attacks. A spokesperson said: “Smashing up a branch of Gail’s does nothing to advance peace in the Middle East; it simply spreads hate on British streets. The Metropolitan Police must ensure that those responsible face the full consequences of their actions.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 quoting CAD 7771/18FEB, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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