Stories from london · United Kingdom

The UK is facing an elevated threat of terrorist attacks targeting Jewish and Israeli individuals and institutions. The Prime Minister addressed the issue during a visit to Golders Green, where he was jeered by attendees. He urged the public to acknowledge anti-Semitism and called for collective action to combat it. An attack is considered highly likely within the next six months. This assessment follows incidents including a suspected terror attack at Goldersgreen in north London yesterday. One victim, Sholomey Rand, described being attacked on the street. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is awaiting a review by Lord McDonald to determine permitted march routes. This change indicates it is now highly likely that a terrorist attack could occur in the UK.

An investigative report by Sky News suggests that social media pages and accounts are recruiting agents for Iranian intelligence within the United Kingdom. The threat is being monitored by MI5 to protect national security. Social media channels on Instagram are reportedly being used as a covert method to recruit followers for Iranian intelligence operations in the United Kingdom. The source described the activity as a hidden way to identify and recruit agents. This development follows previous reports regarding Iranian intelligence activities in the region. The recruitment process reportedly targets followers of specific accounts to facilitate intelligence gathering. The source noted that these activities involve repeated attempts to target facilities or interests in Britain. Experts report that Iranian intelligence has used Telegram channels to recruit individuals in the United Kingdom.

The FTSE 100 closed at 10,378 points, marking an increase of 165 points or over 1.5%. France's CAC 40 closed at 8,114 points, up 42 points or over 0.5%. Germany's DAX ended a multi-day decline to close at 24,292 points, rising 337 points or 1.5%. Major European indices closed higher on Thursday. The French CAC 40 closed at 8,114, up over 0.5%, while Germany's DAX rose 1.4% to 24,292, marking the largest monthly increase since November 2020. Brent crude fell 3.4% to $114.01 per barrel. The FTSE 100 rose 1.62% to 10,378, the CAC 40 rose 0.53% to 8,114, and the DAX rose 1.41% to 24,292. Most European markets are closed for the holiday, and several Asian markets including China and Singapore are also shut. 10-year Treasury yields rose by 1.5 basis points to 4.38 percent. The US dollar is stronger against the Japanese yen following interventions and warnings from Japanese authorities.

Firefighters stated they do not believe a blaze near a synagogue in Stamford Hill, north London, was started deliberately. Authorities are investigating the incident as an intentional act. The incident has prompted discussions regarding potential changes to political campaign tactics. The source noted the attacks occurred yesterday. A man targeted Jewish men in a part of London with a large Jewish population on Wednesday. The incident has been described as an anti-Semitic atrocity. A stabbing attack in London on April 29 left two people injured and has been classified as a terrorist attack by police. Two members of the local Jewish community sustained knife wounds during the incident. A 45-year-old British citizen of Somali origin is the suspect in the attack. The suspect also attempted to stab police officers during the encounter, according to the source.

A file has been passed to the police regarding an apparently illegal donation made to the Robert Jemric campaign. The donation is linked to Spot Fitness. A politician noted that certain factors are fueling these activities and need to be addressed.

Prime Minister Saqeer Stama was heckled during a visit to Golders Green today. The event was described as a moment of raw anger from local residents. The Prime Minister visited Golders Green earlier this evening to meet with two women, one Muslim and one Jewish. During the visit, the Prime Minister called for citizens to fight anti-Semitism and support a tolerant Britain. The incident occurred as Starmer delivered a speech stating that the time for warm words has ended and must be met with action. The broadcast noted that such attacks are becoming more frequent. The Prime Minister has been in power for nearly two years. The incident follows recent attacks including firebombing of ambulance services and attacks on synagogues. Some commentators suggested the government needs to increase protections against rising terror threats.

England cricket captain Ben Stokes has been given medical clearance to return to the sport. Stokes previously suffered facial injuries, including a broken right cheekbone, after being struck in the face by a ball. The announcement follows his recovery from the injury.

National Security Correspondent JJ Green and experts discussed whether recent incidents in London were carried out by the terror group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiyah. Analysts are investigating if these events represent an actual Iranian hybrid warfare operation across Europe. Dr. Hans-Jekob Schindler provided commentary on the situation. Hans-Jekob Schindler, senior director at the Counter Extremism Project, stated that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard of Iran is running these attacks. He noted that the US is not immune and that the operations involve providing money to individuals to conduct attacks, such as firebombing synagogues. Hans Jacob Schindler, Senior Director at the Counter-Extremism, is analyzing whether the group is responsible or if the activity is state-sponsored.

Premier Inn owner announced the closure of the final Beefeater and Brewers Fayre restaurant locations. The closures are expected to result in the loss of 3,800 jobs across Britain.

Lord Mann, the government's independent adviser on anti-Semitism, discussed whether the UK government should ban pro-Palestinian demonstrations. Mann stated that Jewish people in Britain currently face difficulties in schools, workplaces, and the NHS due to anti-Semitism. He said that no one should have to live under such conditions. Mann stated that a ban would negatively impact everyone, including the Jewish community, and argued that the focus should be on targeting extremists. The UK government's counterterrorism adviser, Jonathan Hall, has called for a temporary ban on pro-Palestinian protests. Hall argued that such protests have become impossible to manage without incubating anti-Semitism. The adviser noted that current security risk assessments are not an anomaly compared to historical levels, such as following the Manchester attacks.