Prime Minister Starmer Heckled During Golders Green Visit After Knife Attack on Jewish Men

Prime Minister Keir Starmer encountered protesters during a visit to Golders Green, a North London suburb where two Jewish men were stabbed on Wednesday. Demonstrators chanted, "Keir Starmer, Jew Harmer," and shouted "traitor" as his vehicle passed.

Starmer met with leaders from the Shomrim security group and Hatzola, a Jewish medical charity that recently had its ambulances targeted in an arson attack. He was accompanied by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, and local MP Sarah Sackman.

On Thursday, the government committed an additional GBP#25 million for the protection of Jewish communities, raising the total allocation to GBP#58 million. This funding is intended for increased police presence and patrols in Jewish areas, deployment of specialist and plain-clothes officers, and protective security for synagogues, schools, and community centres.

Speaking before his visit, Sir Keir acknowledged a "very deep sense of anxiety, of concern about security, about safety, about identity" within the Jewish community, noting a series of recent attacks.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch stated the community felt the government was not doing enough, advocating for an "increased police presence" and questioning the sufficiency of the GBP#25 million boost. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urged "additional protective security measures... without delay," including "high-visibility police protection." Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticised the government's approach to pro-Palestine marches, describing it as "weak, weak, weak." Jonathan Hall KC, the government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, called for a "moratorium" on such marches, claiming they "incubate" antisemitism.

The Stop The War Coalition, planning a demonstration for 16 May, rejected attempts to link the North London attacks with pro-Palestine marches, condemning all forms of antisemitism and racism. They maintained their marches were expressions of solidarity, supported by many Jewish attendees, and not "hate marches."

Separately, clips surfaced on social media appearing to show police officers kicking a suspect in the head during the Golders Green arrest. The Met Police released body-worn camera footage, stating officers repeatedly ordered the suspect to "get down on the ground" and "drop the knife" before he was Tasered. The force asserted the suspect "refused to show his hands, was violent and continued to pose a clear threat," attempting to attack officers during detention. Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley praised the officers' actions, noting they were unarmed and feared an explosive device. The police reported the suspect had a history of serious violence and mental health issues.