Extra officers to protect Jewish communities in London - as police reveal details of further arrests

Recent arrests have come after rocks were thrown at a Jewish community ambulance and a Jewish man was threatened with racially offensive language, the Met Police says.

The Metropolitan Police has announced a team of 100 extra officers to help tackle antisemitism in London – after a number of arrests were made over the weekend.

Since late March, there have been a series of arson attacks at Jewish sites in the capital, as well as a stabbing incident in Golders Green, north London, that is being treated as an act of terrorism.

The Met Police has revealed details of further incidents over the weekend – including a 35-year-old man arrested on Saturday on suspicion of aggravated criminal damage after rocks were thrown at a Jewish community ambulance while it was transporting a patient in Edgware.

It was one of several arrests over the weekend in connection with racially and religiously aggravated offences, the force said.

On Friday, a 57‑year‑old man was arrested following reports he threatened a Jewish man using racially offensive language, while further arrests were made on Saturday for racially aggravated harassment, criminal damage and public order offences in Brent and Croydon.

Authorities said that all those arrested have been released on bail pending further investigation.

It comes as the government is reportedly planning to introduce new legislation which would see people convicted of antisemitic attacks orchestrated from Tehran face up to 14 years in prison.

Legislation to be included in the King’s Speech next week will give the home secretary the power to designate proxy groups as a foreign intelligence service – even if those involved do not realise they are acting on behalf of Iranian proxies, The Times reported.

The Met Police has announced a team of “initially 100 extra officers” will be introduced to help safeguard the Jewish community following a spate of antisemitic attacks in London in recent months.

Police said the team will aim to provide a “more visible, intelligence‑led and coordinated presence” and “provide a blueprint for how policing responds when tensions rise”.

It will be “primarily focused on protecting the Jewish community”, which authorities say has faced “some of the highest levels of hate crime”.

However, a Met spokesperson insisted “hate crime in all its forms… remains a core policing priority”.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, who previously claimed 300 extra officers were needed across London after warning of a growing “pandemic” of antisemitism in the UK, said the new team marks an “important step in strengthening our response to the sustained threats Jewish communities are facing”.

The Met chief added: “We are working with government and the mayor to ensure the approach we are building can be sustained over time, not just for Jewish communities, but as a model that can support other communities across London when facing elevated risk.

“A settled, long‑term model built around local teams will be far more effective than repeated emergency responses, reducing risk and delivering lasting reassurance.”

The move comes after the government announced last week it would be providing £25m in one‑off funding to support protective policing, with £18m ringfenced specifically for the Met.

In the past four weeks, police in London have arrested around 50 people for antisemitic hate crimes, while eight individuals have been charged.

This is in addition to 28 arrests linked to arson attacks and other serious offences investigated alongside Counter Terrorism Police.

Essa Suleiman, a 45-year-old British national born in Somalia, has been charged with two counts of attempted murder following the double stabbing in Golders Green, as well as a third count of attempted murder in relation to a separate incident on the same day.