London synagogue ‘vandalised' amid Israel-Iran war
The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into an attempted burglary while forensic inquiries continue.
Images posted on social media by a community group show officers standing amid the debris at Gur Synagogue in Stamford Hill, north London.
One image shows a wheelchair surrounded by plastic bags and a large kitchen knife on top of it, while others depict personal lockers pulled open with contents, including prayer shawls and papers, strewn on the floor.
The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity that monitors anti-Semitic incidents in the UK, said that it had been made aware.
A spokesman said: 'At a time when community tensions are already high, this is an appalling act of vandalism which has caused significant damage to a synagogue in Stamford Hill.
'We are in touch with the location and are providing support. We urge anyone with information to contact CST and the police as a matter of urgency.
An X account called In Stamford Hill posted the photos with the caption: 'A shocking incident occurred overnight where the Gur Synagogue on Lampard Grove was vandalised with the Torah scrolls desecrated.'
The Torah, the compilation of the first five books of the Jewish bible, is the central document of Judaism and has been used throughout the ages.
According to data from the CST, there were 3,528 instances of anti-Jewish hate recorded across the UK in 2024, marking the second-highest annual total ever reported to the organisation.
The group said the figure reflects 'the sustained high levels of anti-Jewish hate that have been recorded across the country' since the October 7 attacks.
Among the incidents are cases of damage and desecration to Jewish property, threats, abusive behaviour and violence, and mass-produced anti-Semitic literature.
Last week, Israel launched a wave of strikes on Tehran, the capital city of Iran, killing top military officials, nuclear scientists and civilians.
Iran has since fired ballistic missiles in retaliation as both countries continue their attacks.
Donald Trump, the US president, appeared to back down from joining Israel in its war with Iran, saying he will decide in the next two weeks if the US will intervene.
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