London police ramp up security for Lag B’Omer amid rising antisemitism
London police ramp up security for Lag B’Omer amid rising antisemitism
London police deploy extra officers for Lag B’Omer as antisemitic threats rise, with barriers and volunteer guards boosting protection across the capital.
In a London police van parked in north London, Inspector Thomas Vie told officers there was a real possibility a terrorist could target Jewish events that night. More than five times the usual number of officers were on duty on Tuesday to protect thousands of orthodox Jewish families celebrating Lag B’Omer, just days after two Jewish men were stabbed in a terror attack in Golders Green. Hours earlier, a former synagogue in Tower Hamlets, east London, was targeted in an arson attack—the latest in a string of incidents aimed at Jewish Londoners.
Lag B’Omer is marked with parades, bonfires and dancing in Jewish neighborhoods across the capital. At an event in Stamford Hill, where one of Europe’s largest Hasidic communities is centered, the terrorist threat assessment had been increased to “substantial.” The inspector urged officers to deter and disrupt would-be attackers while reassuring attendees. For the first time, men, women and children at the celebration on Egerton Road were being protected by hostile vehicle mitigation barriers designed to stop a vehicle from ramming crowds.
Shomrim—the volunteer-led force dedicated to safeguarding Jewish communities—had doubled its security operation, with 50 volunteers working at the event. The Independent was granted special access to Tuesday’s operation as thousands gathered, emphasizing the seriousness with which authorities view the threat landscape around Jewish religious festivals. Although there was no specific intelligence of a planned attack, the overall threat picture suggested that someone would likely attempt to target a Jewish festival within the next six months. The scale of protection and the visibility of security measures underscored a broader push to deter extremist violence in the wake of recent incidents.
With arson at a synagogue site and stabbing incidents shaping the sense of risk, London’s police leadership has stressed continuity in protective measures for Jewish communities during key religious milestones. The move to deploy extra officers and enhanced barriers signals a longer-term commitment to safeguarding public spaces where vulnerable communities gather, even as officials avoid proclaiming heightened alarms unrelated to concrete intelligence.
