The UK’s national terror threat level has been raised from “substantial” to “severe” after two Jewish men were attacked in Golders Green, north London, on Wednesday.
“Today, the national threat level has increased to ‘severe,’ which means a terrorist attack is considered highly likely,” Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said in a statement on Thursday. “I know this will be a source of concern to many, particularly amongst our Jewish community, who have suffered so much.”
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which sets the national threat level, said the rise was not solely a response to the Golders Green incident. It cited a growing threat from both Islamist and extreme right‑wing individuals and small groups based in the UK.
The UK uses five threat levels; “severe” is the second highest. The country last faced this level following the Liverpool Women’s Hospital bombing and the 2021 killing of MP David Amess. The level was lowered to “substantial” in February 2022.
The attack in Golders Green, a neighbourhood with a large Jewish population, left two Jewish men aged 34 and 76 seriously injured. Police declared the incident a terrorist act and a 45‑year‑old man remains in custody. Both victims are in stable condition. The stabbing is the latest in a series of incidents targeting Jewish services and sites in recent months.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who visited Golders Green on Thursday, vowed his government would do “everything in our power to stamp this hatred out.” The government earlier declared an antisemitism emergency and pledged increased measures to protect Jewish communities.
Ministers said they will invest an additional £25 million in police patrols and security and will fast‑track legislation to give authorities stronger powers to target state‑sponsored proxy groups. Starmer’s visit was met by a small group of protesters accusing his government of failing to protect Jewish people from rising antisemitic violence.
Edited by: Rana Taha