Security stepped up to ‘high alert’ at London synagogues during Hanukkah after Bondi attack

Synagogues across London have tightened their security as worshippers say they felt ‘frightened for their lives’ following the deadly attack on a Jewish festival in Australia.

The Met has dispatched more patrols around areas of north London, such as Golders Green, where there are large Jewish communities.

This follows an attack at Bondi Beach, near Sydney, on Sunday where two gunmen opened fire during an event to mark the first night of Hannukah – an eight-day festival in Judaism.

Rabbi Eli Schlanger was among the 15 shot dead, who was helping lead the event organised by the local Chabad group, alongside a Holocaust and a 10-year-old girl.

The rabbi, 41, originally from London, had family who have attended the Finchley synagogue.

The synagogue, like Jewish schools across London, has private security on the door and patrolling the grounds, which are also monitored by cameras.

A security guard at the Finchley synagogue told Metro that his team have been liaising with police to counter any threat in the capital.

He said: ‘We are always watchful but even more so now. We are working with the police and have increased our security level even though it is always high because there have been so many attacks around the world.

‘The police are very good and offer us support, we are ready, it’s high alert.’

The synagogue is circled by CCTV cameras and visitors are required to report to a security checkpoint.

The guard added: ‘We are very careful. What happened in Australia is terrible.’

Since the October 7 terror attack and the ensuing bombardment of Gaza, Jewish communities in London have been braced for attacks.

Regulars at the Sinai synagogue in Hendon said the community was ‘living in fear’ after the latest atrocity.

One told Metro: ‘We have all been affected by this terrible event. Everyone is connected to someone who knows or knows of people injured or killed. We are frightened obviously.

‘We don’t know if we are going to be targeted next. This community has had to adapt and security measures are in place and are getting stronger all the time. We are preparing for the worst case scenario.’

Another regular said: ‘We shouldn’t have to live with this fear but we have no choice.’

Meanwhile, the Met Police confirmed officers were liaising with community venues following the terror attack.

It said in a statement: ‘At a time when London’s Jewish communities are coming together to begin the celebration of Hannukah, we know this attack will be the cause of not just terrible upset but also significant heightened concern about safety.

‘We were already working closely with partners, including the Community Security Trust, to provide an increased presence around synagogues and other community venues at this important time.’

The force added: ‘While there is no information to suggest any link between the attack in Sydney and the threat level in London, this morning we are stepping up our police presence, carrying out additional community patrols and engaging with the Jewish community to understand what more we can do in the coming hours and days.’

A police officer covering Golders Green who was patrolling on Monday told Metro that the force was supporting the those feeling unsafe after the Bondi attack.

PC Andrew Tuppen said: ‘We are doing all we can to reassure the community and help in any way we can.’

The Community Safety Trust (CST), which advises and represents the Jewish community on security issues in the UK, has condemned the attack targeting a Hannukah celebration.

A statement said: ‘Chanukah is a Jewish festival that celebrates light and religious freedom and it is abhorrent that such violence was directed at a moment of communal joy. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and the Australian Jewish community at this awful time.

‘CST will continue to work closely with police, government and community partners to protect Jewish life in this country, including  discussions this morning to increase security and policing for Chanukah events in the UK over the next eight days.’

Yisroel Lew, the rabbi for Marylebone, spoke as he lit a menorah at a vigil and Hanukkah celebration outside Australia House in central London.

He said: ‘After hearing what happened this morning, the first thought was: how can we bring more light?

‘Don’t be afraid and celebrate Hanukkah.’

The Community Security Trust, a Jewish security charity, said it was working to increase security at venues over Hanukkah.

It said: ‘Chanukah is a Jewish festival that celebrates light and religious freedom and it is abhorrent that such violence was directed at a moment of communal joy. Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and the Australian Jewish community at this awful time.’

Sir Keir Starmer and Lady Victoria Starmer lit their family Chanukiah in the window of Number 10 as they sent ‘thoughts and prayers’ to those murdered in the terrorist attack.

Sir Keir Starmer wrote on X: ‘Chanukah should be a time of celebration and joy. The news that the Bondi beach attack was an antisemitic terrorist attack against Jewish families at a Chanukah event is sickening.

‘My thoughts are with the victims and their families.

‘The United Kingdom will always stand with Australia and the Jewish community. We are actively working with Community Security Trust on the policing of Chanukah events.’

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the Jewish community would ‘rebuild with tenacity’ after the ‘unspeakable atrocity’.

He wrote: ‘As we kindle our first Chanukah lights this evening, we hold the victims of the unspeakable atrocity in Sydney in our hearts and in our prayers.

‘We mourn the loss of the innocent lives taken so brutally in this act of hatred and terror and we pray for a speedy recovery for all those injured.

‘Once again, Jews have been targeted for the crime of gathering together proudly as Jews and it is hard to find the words to adequately express our pain.

‘Our traditional Jewish response is clear: In the spirit of the defiant Maccabees, who declared that they would never be cowed nor denied the right to live and worship freely, we are strong and resilient.’

As events to mark the first night of Hanukkah get underway, many members of the community are volunteering to keep events safe.

Adam Ma’anit is among many wearing stab vests while helping with the CST to protect venues.

He said: ‘Along with hundreds of others at the CST, I will be donning a stab vest tonight to help secure my community as we mark the first night of Hanukkah. All of us will be thinking of the victims at Bondi Beach.

‘Hanukkah is about Jewish resilience and perseverence and we will be working to ensure our communities can mark the holiday safely.’

Zalman S Shterna Lewis, a Chabad emissary and cousin of Rabbi Eli who was killed in the Sydney attack, paid tribute to the religious leader as an ‘incredible guy’.

He said he heard the news as he left synagogue this morning.

‘Let’s flood the world with goodness. As Jews, we know, as difficult as it might seem, that light & good will always win’, he wrote on his Facebook page.

The Hanukkah attack comes amid a rising tide of antisemitism and several high profile incidents coinciding with Jewish holidays.

Two congregants were killed during an attack on a synagogue in north Manchester on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.

Melvin Cravitz and Adrian Daulby both died after Syrian-born Al-Shamie rammed his car into the synagogue gates before launching a knife attack at worshippers.

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