Starmer addresses Commons after ‘utterly appalling’ Golders Green attack

Sir Keir Starmer told MPs he had been informed about the “deeply concerning” incident immediately before attending Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons on Wednesday.

Addressing the House, Starmer said: “It is deeply concerning to everyone in this House. There is now a police investigation, and I think we all need to do everything we can to support that investigation and be absolutely clear in our determination to deal with any of these offences, the like of which we have seen too much recently.”

In a post on X he later wrote:”The antisemitic attack in Golders Green is utterly appalling.

“Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain. Thank you to Shomrim, Hatzola and the police for acting swiftly. Those responsible will be brought to justice.”

Later, a Downing Street spokesperson acknowledged that the Jewish community now faces “a daily threat” from antisemitic hatred.

“This is a hatred that is rising once again, that we must defeat,” Starmer’s spokesperson said. “That is why we’re backing the Jewish community with record levels of security funding and clear action to root out antisemitism wherever it appears.”

The incident in Golders Green was raised in the Commons by Hornsey and Friern Barnet MP Catherine West at the end of Prime Minister’s Questions.
She told MPs: “The whole House will be very concerned to hear about the dreadful stabbings this morning in the borough of Barnet.”

West added that she was “very worried about this repeated violence against the Jewish community”.

“We condemn these alleged attacks and we wish the police, the council and all the community services the very best in solving this and bringing to justice those perpetrators of these violent crimes,” she said.

Mayor Of London Sadiq Khan also condemned the attacks.

He said:”There has been an appalling attack on two Jewish Londoners in Golders Green.

“The police have made an arrest and I’d like to thank all the emergency services and heroic volunteers from Hatzola and Shomrim  in the area for their swift response to this horrific incident.”

He added:” I’m in close contact with the Met Police who will be providing further updates.

“London’s Jewish community have been the target of a series of shocking antisemitic attacks. There must be absolutely no place for antisemitism in society. The Met have stepped up high visibility patrols in the area.”