Prime Minister Keir Starmer Pledges IRGC Proscription After Kenton Synagogue Petrol Bombing
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has identified the use of proxies by hostile states to conduct attacks in the UK as a "real and growing concern". Speaking at Kenton United Synagogue, which endured a petrol bomb attack on Saturday, Sir Keir noted increasing instances of "a number of countries" employing such groups for criminal acts within Britain.
Since late March, several arson attacks have targeted Jewish community assets across the UK, encompassing two synagogues and a former Jewish charity building. Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, an Islamist group reportedly linked to Iran, has claimed responsibility for an attack on Jewish community ambulances in north London, alongside other incidents in the UK and Europe.
During his visit to the north-west London synagogue, Sir Keir met with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and other community members. Prior to the meeting, Saul Taylor, President of the United Synagogue, voiced the Jewish community's significant anger at the government, particularly regarding the delay in proscribing the IRGC. Mr Taylor highlighted the substantial security costs borne by synagogues, citing one spending GBP#20,000 monthly, describing it as a "tax on being Jewish in Britain".
Sir Keir affirmed that the government would "as quickly as possible" introduce legislation to proscribe the IRGC, a measure already adopted by other European nations. Labour had previously pledged this action before the 2024 general election. The government's independent reviewer of terror legislation indicated last year that new laws were necessary to address state-backed organisations.
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis conveyed the Jewish community's anxiety following the attacks and urged Sir Keir to guarantee an end to the normalisation of antisemitism in the UK, advocating for a zero-tolerance approach. He also pressed the Prime Minister to proscribe the IRGC and "all other terrorist organisations, whether state sponsored or not".
Police investigations into the attacks on the Jewish community are ongoing. A 17-year-old British national from Brent has pleaded guilty to arson not endangering life at Kenton United Synagogue, where he threw a petrol bomb, causing smoke damage. Two other suspects are being sought, and another teenager has been arrested and released on bail.
