LONDON – A synagogue and a Jewish children’s nursery in Golders Green were smeared with excrement early Thursday, the latest in a string of attacks that police and community security volunteers say have targeted Jewish sites in the area in just over a week.
Shomrim North West London, the local volunteer community patrol, said the incident marked the eighth antisemitic attack in the period and that CCTV footage links a single suspect to multiple offences. Shomrim urged anyone with information to come forward.
The Metropolitan Police said it is treating several of the incidents as religiously motivated criminal damage. Detective Superintendent Katie Harber, who is leading the inquiry from the North West Command, said: “These are revolting and appalling acts and we are very aware of the distress this has caused to those who have been targeted. We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour.” The force released CCTV images and appealed to the public for information.
Officers reported multiple episodes in early September in which a substance was smeared on synagogue doors and other Jewish premises. In a separate episode, a liquid, reported to be urine, was thrown at a Jewish school and at a vehicle linked to a place of worship. Police said the offences appear connected and that enquiries are underway.
The local patrol said the pattern of incidents began on August 31, with further attacks on September 2, 3, 7, and 11. Shomrim’s social posts included images of smeared doorways and CCTV stills that it said showed the same male suspect. “This was a deliberate antisemitic attack,” Shomrim wrote in a public appeal.
The Mayor of London condemned the series of incidents. A City Hall spokesperson said Mayor Sadiq Khan was “appalled by the recent disgusting antisemitic attacks in Golders Green” and reiterated that antisemitism has no place in the capital. The office praised police efforts to reassure the local community and urged anyone with footage or information to contact the Met.
Community leaders described the attacks as deeply distressing, particularly given Golders Green’s large and visible Jewish population. Volunteers from Shomrim increased patrols and worked with police to support affected institutions. Barnet Council also condemned the incidents, calling for the perpetrator to be brought to justice.
Police later reported an arrest in connection with several offences. Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams said the detention represented “a significant development in our investigation following substantial CCTV enquiries by officers. We remain in close contact with the local Jewish community as we continue to provide our support and reassurance.” The suspect remained in custody as police continued inquiries.
The episodes prompted renewed calls from Jewish organizations for stronger local protections for houses of worship, schools, and community facilities. Advocates asked for clear, rapid police responses, improved reporting channels, and immediate security measures at vulnerable sites. They also urged national and local leaders to condemn antisemitic targeting and to ensure hate crime laws are enforced robustly.
For residents and communal authorities, the incidents highlight ongoing anxieties over safety and the daily vulnerabilities faced by visibly Jewish institutions. Volunteers and parents described heightened unease ahead of upcoming religious observances and school terms, and community groups vowed to keep working with police to secure premises and shield children.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Metropolitan Police on 101 quoting reference 1071/03SEP, or to contact independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Shomrim also urged people with relevant footage to share it directly with investigators.
This article is based on verified information from the Metropolitan Police, Shomrim North West London, Jewish Chronicle, Times of Israel, and Jewish News.