Key Points
- The Metropolitan Police has announced a new specialist unit of around 100 officers to protect Jewish communities across London.
- The team will combine neighbourhood policing, specialist protection and counterterrorism capabilities.
- Police said the move comes after a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents, including arson attacks, threats and a double stabbing.
- Officers have made multiple arrests in recent weeks, including around 50 arrests for antisemitic hate crimes over the past four weeks, with eight charges brought.
- Police are also investigating possible links to hostile state actors, including suspected Iranian involvement in some incidents.
- The new unit is intended to provide a more visible, coordinated and sustainable security presence for Jewish areas in the capital.
- London’s police leadership says the threat environment facing the Jewish community is among the most serious in recent years.
London (The Londoner News) May 6, 2026 – The Metropolitan Police have announced a new specialist protection unit of about 100 officers to safeguard Jewish communities across London after a recent rise in antisemitic attacks and threats, including arson incidents, hate crimes and a double stabbing. The force said the team will bring together neighbourhood policing, specialist protection and counterterrorism expertise to provide a stronger, more visible presence in areas with large Jewish populations.
What has London police announced?
London police said the new Community Protection Team will be built around around 100 officers and will be tasked with improving security for Jewish communities across the capital.
The plan was unveiled as officers reported further arrests linked to antisemitism and as concerns grew over the scale and persistence of recent threats.
The Metropolitan Police said the unit would combine local policing knowledge with specialist safeguarding and counterterrorism support.
According to the force, the aim is not only to respond to immediate risks but also to create a more consistent model of protection for communities facing sustained danger.
Why was the unit created?
Police said the decision was driven by an escalation in antisemitic incidents in London over recent weeks. These included violent assaults, arson attempts targeting Jewish sites and other hate-related offences, which authorities described as part of a wider and worsening security picture.
As reported by Reuters, London’s top police chief Mark Rowley said Jewish communities were facing “sustained threats” from hostile state actors, extreme right-wing groups, elements of the extreme left and Islamist terrorists. Reuters also reported that investigators are examining potential Iranian connections to some of the arson cases.
What incidents prompted the response?
The recent wave of incidents has included attacks on Jewish sites, a stabbing of two Jewish men and an episode in which rocks were thrown at an ambulance serving the Jewish community. Police have also linked a string of arson attacks and other serious offences to ongoing investigations.
Reuters reported that over the past four weeks police arrested around 50 people for antisemitic hate crimes and charged eight individuals.
In addition, 28 arrests were made as part of counterterrorism-related investigations into arson and other serious cases.
How will the new team work?
The new unit is expected to operate with a more visible and coordinated approach, focusing on Jewish neighbourhoods, schools, faith leaders and community contacts.
BBC News reported that the officers will include people familiar with the local area and the communities they are tasked to protect.
The Metropolitan Police said the aim is to move beyond short-term surges in patrols and create a more sustainable presence.
The force described the plan as the start of a longer-term model of protection that could also inform security responses for other communities during periods of heightened risk.
What have police said about the threat level?
Police leadership has described the current environment as one of the most serious faced by Jewish communities in recent years. Reuters reported that the force regards the threats as coming from multiple directions, including extremist networks and possible foreign-linked actors.
The Guardian reported that antisemitic hate crimes in London have reached a two-year high, reinforcing the urgency behind the new policing model.
That reporting also noted the force wants a more reliable and consistent form of protection rather than reactive deployments alone.
What is the wider context?
The announcement comes amid heightened concern in the UK over antisemitism and politically motivated violence. Reuters reported that Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with leaders from business, health and cultural sectors on Monday to discuss ways of combating antisemitism.
The policing move also follows broader national concern after the UK raised its threat level to “severe” in connection with a separate antisemitic attack in London. That decision underscores the level of alarm now surrounding security for Jewish institutions and community spaces.
What happens next?
The Metropolitan Police is expected to roll out the new team as part of a broader effort involving government support, mayoral coordination and intelligence-sharing. The force said it wants a model that can deliver both immediate reassurance and longer-term resilience for vulnerable communities.
For London’s Jewish community, the announcement marks a formal recognition that the current threat picture has become unusually serious. The new unit is designed to ensure protection is not only stronger, but also more visible, more local and more enduring.
If you want, I can turn this into a cleaner newspaper-style version with a stronger Reuters-like tone and a tighter 900–1,000 word length.
