Latest news with #StamfordHill
Telegraph
20-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
London synagogue ‘vandalised' amid Israel-Iran war
A London synagogue has been 'vandalised' amid the ongoing 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.
The Guardian
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Pro-Palestine group targets Jewish-owned business alleging links to Israeli weapons firm
A Jewish-owned business in north London has been daubed in red paint and its shop window smashed by pro-Palestinian campaigners in an incident police are treating as racially aggravated. Three men were caught on CCTV in the early hours of Thursday attacking an investment group in Stamford Hill, an area with a large community of orthodox Jews. They also spray painted the words 'Drop Elbit' in red, a reference to Elbit Systems UK, an Israeli arms manufacturer. Palestine Action claimed responsibility for the attack. The group said it was targeting a business that is registered as the landlords of an Elbit weapons factory in Kent. A spokesperson for company, which requested anonymity for fear of further attacks, said it had no connection with Elbit and that the incident had terrified employees. They said: 'I turned up this morning and saw the place vandalised. For Jewish people it is very, very scary now.' Police have taken statements from employees and are investigating CCTV footage of the attack unfolding. The Metropolitan police said officers were called to the property at 7.23am. In a statement the force said: 'Inquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made at this stage. This incident is being treated as racially aggravated criminal damage.' It added: 'We understand the concern this may cause members of the Jewish community. Officers are working with community leaders and patrols have increased across the local area.' In a statement, Palestine Action said: 'During the early hours of Thursday, activists from Palestine Action targeted the London-based landlords of Elbit's Instro Precision weapons factory. The registered address … was covered in red paint and the front windows were shattered, to demonstrate against the company's involvement in arming the Gaza genocide.' It added: 'Instro Precision is a weapons maker owned by Elbit Systems, Israel's biggest weapons producer.' The group claims that Instro Precision was granted more than a dozen weapons export licences last year for the shipment of arms to Israel. Palestine Action says it targets all those who profit from the operations of Israel's biggest weapons producer, and demanded the landlords evict Instro Precision.
