Shadow home secretary Philp visits Golders Green after sickening antisemitic attacks
Cllr Dean Cohen welcomed the Tory frontbencher on his tour of the North London constituency
Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp has called for zero tolerance of the “ancient evil of antisemitism” after visiting Golders Green in the wake of a spate of anti-Jewish attacks.
The Tory frontbencher toured the north London constituency with local councillor Dean Cohen and called for national leaders across the political spectrum to speak out forcibly against the rise in Jew-hate.
Councillor Cohen spoke of how there had been eight antisemitic attacks over a ten-day period impacting on schools, synagogues, and homes in the area, with its large Jewish population.
“Yes, they’ve arrested a person, but more needs to be done by politicians speaking out, and more police on the streets in the area,” Cohen told the shadow minister. The visit was the first organised under the auspices of the newly formed Conservative Jewish Alliance, which was founded by Cohen earlier this year.
Philp said he was in complete agreement, and also said that where antisemitic harassment occurs, “there should be arrests or prosecutions.”
He later posted on X:”The vile antisemitic attacks in Golders Green recently are sickening. This behaviour has no place here. I visited Golders Green to learn more and discuss the importance of fighting antisemitism”.
A man has been charged in connection with a series of attacks in Golders Green.
Ionut-Cristian Bold, 37, of no fixed address, has been charged with six counts of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage as well as one count of racially or religiously aggravated harassment without violence.
Between 4 and 11 September, four synagogues and a private residence in Golders Green had a substance smeared on them, the Met Police has said.
Other incidents, which police described as “revolting and appalling”, involved liquid being thrown towards a school and over a car. It is understood that the substance and liquid were bodily fluids.
Bold has also been charged with three counts of destroying or damaging property, as well as one count of having an article with the intent to destroy or damage property.
Appearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Monday, Bold indicated not guilty pleas to six counts of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage.
Bold, a Romanian national, was charged with a series of offences across north London between April and September.
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