Catholic bishops and other faith leaders condemn antisemitic terror attack in Golders Green

Archbishop of Westmister Richard Moth offered prayers following the terrorist incident yesterday when two men from the Jewish community in Golders Green were stabbed.

“I pray for the victims of this attack and salute the swift actions of the policemen in preventing further violence; and our continued prayers for the whole Jewish community at this time,” he said. “We must stand together against all those who promote hatred and violence against any person because of their faith.”

Police described the stabbing of two Jewish men, Nachman Moshe ben Chaya Sarah, aged 76, and Moshe Ben Baila by Mirvis, aged 34, as a terrorist incident.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mervis called for British voices across the country to stand with the Jewish community and condemn the attacks.

“I’m sad to say that today’s event proves that if you are visibly Jewish you’re not safe, and far more needs to be done. It’s a sustained effort to terrorise the Jewish community, which will not succeed, because we’re a strong and resilient community. We face these kind of attacks and these incidents with great fortitude. However, this cannot be allowed to continue. We need to tackle not just symptoms, but also the causes. We need to recognise that state-sponsored terrorism on the streets of our country is simply unacceptable.”

Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally said, “There must be zero tolerance for antisemitism or any other form of hatred – and faith communities must work together urgently to counter violent extremism.”

Bishop of Edmonton Dr Jeremiah Anderson said: “The fact that such an atrocity has occurred in our community is devastating. This was not just an attack on individuals, but on the safety and spirit of our entire neighbourhood. In the face of such darkness, our community must stand firm.”

The suspect, a Somalia-born British national with a history of mental health difficulties, was tasered and arrested near the scene. A group with links to Iran, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, has claimed responsibility.

The stabbing follows a spate of attacks on the Jewish community in north London in particular.

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Theologian and writer Joseph Kelly said on The Catholic Directory website, “It has come as little surprise that the dreadful stabbing attack on two members of the Golders Green Jewish community going innocently about their business this afternoon has been formally declared a terrorist incident. The video footage that has been shared widely in the press and across social media shows in graphic detail both the absolute unprovoked horror of the attack and the extraordinary bravery of police officers as they fought with the knife-wielding assailant.”

He said antisemitic attacks had been increasing significantly ever since the Iran war started. “There is now a really urgent sense amongst Jewish communities that its simply not safe for them to be walking about on British streets.”

He added, “Academics, philosophers, historians, legislators and all manner of expert commentators will have their share of theories about why antisemitism has been so persistent and destructive across the centuries of human society, but the nub of the matter is that – for all our aspirations to diversity and inclusivity – we still haven’t learnt to trust our neighbour, nor to shed our ancient and redundant suspicions of anyone who simply doesn’t conform to our narrow definition of normality and conformity. Until we’ve shed that ancient burden, antisemitism is a problem we’ll never really understand – nor be able to deal with.”

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the rise in antisemitic attacks now constituted a “national emergency”.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said, “Ordinary Londoners have a responsibility to show ally-ship and solidarity to Jewish people.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called a Cobra meeting, stating, “We also have to be really clear that we need to get to the root causes of extremism and antisemitism, and so that is what we’re doing.”

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