The British government decided Thursday to raise the terrorist threat level in the country to “serious,” the second highest level, after a knife attack targeting Jewish citizens on Wednesday. The government also announced on the same day the allocation of 25 million pounds sterling to enhance the security of Jewish institutions and centers in the country, in a move that came after a series of incidents and attacks targeting the Jewish community in London in recent weeks, and raised growing concerns about the rise of anti-Semitism in the United Kingdom.

Published on: 04/30/2026 - 19:35

The British government on Thursday raised the country's terrorist threat level to "severe", the second highest level in the five-level system, the day after two Jewish men were stabbed in London.

The Home Office said: “The Joint Terrorism Analysis Center today... raised the UK’s national threat level from significant, meaning an attack is likely, to serious, meaning an attack is highly likely in the next six months.”

The threat level has been “significant” since February 2022, according to the center, and its increase comes after the stabbing attack on Wednesday in the Golders Green neighborhood, which is inhabited by a large number of Jews.

The government also pledged on Thursday to allocate an amount of 25 million pounds sterling ($33 million) to provide protection for Jewish institutions there.

Interior Minister Shabana Mahmoud said, “People feel a state of insecurity... That is why the government is providing an additional investment of £25 million to strengthen the security of our Jewish community. This funding will go towards providing greater security protection for synagogues, schools, places of worship and Jewish community centres.”

The incident came after a wave of arson attacks that targeted synagogues and community sites in north London.

Read also: Two people were injured in a stabbing incident in London, and British police consider the attack a “terrorist”

The first attack occurred in late March, and included the burning of four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity.

Incidents followed, including an attack on a synagogue and the headquarters of a Jewish charity. Another synagogue was attacked last week.

For its part, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on the incident, saying that “the British government can no longer claim that the situation is under control,” and urged it to take “decisive and urgent measures.”

In turn, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a post on the X platform, “The anti-Semitic attack that occurred in Golders Green is absolutely horrific. Attacks on British Jews are attacks on Britain.”

"There have been a series of anti-Semitic attacks, and I know from experience how much pain and anxiety this causes within society," he added.

France 24/AFP/Reuters

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