Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Government have been torn apart for their “failure” to protect Jewish communities, following an arson attack in Golders Green.
Speaking to GB News, Reform UK’s mayoral candidate Laila Cunningham declared today a “sad day for London” following the incident, which took place in the early hours of Monday morning.
Four Jewish community-led ambulances were destroyed as a result of the arson attack in Golders Green, north London on Highfield Road at approximately 1.40am.
Issuing a statement, Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams confirmed that although the investigation is being led by counter-terrorism policing, it is “not currently being classified” as a terrorist attack.
Reacting to the attack, Ms Cunningham told GB News that she “woke up and was horrified” to learn about what had happened.
She said: “This is not the London I grew up in. Imagine being part of a community where the ambulance, something that’s meant to save lives, is targeted. And that’s what the Jewish community have to face as of this morning.
“And also as a mother, I speak to Jewish people, Jewish friends of mine, who won’t let their children go out with the Star of David.
“And as a mother, I cannot accept a city where you are targeted because of who you are. It’s a very sad day for London today.”
Laila Cunningham has hit out at the ‘failure’ of the Labour Government following an antisemitic attack in Golders Green
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GB NEWS
Arguing that there has been a “failure of leadership” in protecting Jewish communities in Britain, the Reform candidate highlighted that people in the community are “not surprised” by the attack.
She said: “This is terrorism, it is meant to stoke fear and instil fear in a whole group, a community. And I think there has been a failure of leadership in the city.
“I think what seems to be more shocking is speaking to a number of members of the community this morning, yes, they’re shocked, but they’re just not surprised that this has happened.”
Calling for more “visible policing” and physical protection for Jewish people across the UK, Ms Cunningham urged the Government to adopt a “zero tolerance” approach to “any kind of intimidation or violence” against the Jewish community.
Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the overnight attack
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Ms Cunningham declared: “What we need is visible policing and visible protection for public Jewish schools, public services, synagogues as a baseline.
“But what I think the Jewish community is seeing is that it tends to come after an attack, but by then, of course, it’s too late.
“And there has to be a zero tolerance approach for any kind of intimidation or glorification of violence or hate towards the Jewish community.
“Because London must be safe for everyone and all streets, all public spaces must be safe for everyone or else it belongs to extremists. It no longer no longer belongs to us.”
Hitting out at the “failure” of the Government to protect these communities, she stated: “And if there’s a community or a group of people that are targeted such as the Jewish community and we failed to protect them, then we failed everyone.
Ms Cunningham told GB News that there must be a ‘zero tolerance approach’ to violence and intimidation against the Jewish community
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GB NEWS
“And I feel that is what’s happened today in London. Our leadership and the state has failed everyone this morning.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the attack in a statement, describing it as “deeply shocking antisemitic arson”.
He said: “My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news.
“Antisemitism has no place in our society. Anyone with any information must come forward to the police.”
Anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting reference CAD415 of March 23, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.