The Jewish community in London is preparing for the possibility of a chemical terror attack as fears grow following a string of recent incidents.
Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, revealed that specialist equipment has been bought to respond to such scenarios.
This includes kits designed to stem heavy bleeding as well as equipment to deal with potential chemical exposure.
His chilling comments came as Israel said antisemitism was “spreading like wildfire” in Britain.
Speaking on BBC London Politics on Sunday, Mr Rosenberg said the capital’s Jewish population of around 150,000 people was feeling “very anxious”.
He pointed to a recent arson attack on Jewish ambulances in Golders Green, north London, as well as wider concerns following a rise in anti-Semitic incidents.
“We’ve had two-and-a half-years of very high levels of anti-Semitism, obviously, the deadly attack at Heaton Park Synagogue in Manchester just in October, and now this incident, an arson attack in the heart of London’s Jewish community in Golders Green,” he said.
“So, the community does feel very anxious. It is nonetheless a very resilient and proud community, and we are looking at how we push back and build back stronger.”
Asked about the Government’s response, Mr Rosenberg, a deputy at a north London synagogue, added: “On the way here, I was looking at my WhatsApps.
“I saw one come in from my synagogue, and it was talking not about the great services we put on, the outreach to local communities, the wonderful art and charity that we do, but about a series of kits we’ve just received that will help the community if there’s an attack to stem the flow of blood, or if there’s a chemical attack, that is the situation we’re facing.”
The kits are understood to have been sent to a number of synagogues in London.
But there is not believed to be any intelligence of any imminent threat of a chemical attack.
The equipment has been funded through a £28.4 million Government grant to the Community Security Trust, which provides protection and security support for Jewish sites across the UK.
Mr Rosenberg, a former Labour councillor in Camden, said: “It’s sad that it’s needed, though, because what we need to do is prevent this and create a situation where those things are not the things we’re talking about, and those are not the things we need.”
The comments come just days after four Hatzola ambulances were destroyed in a suspected antisemitic arson attack in Golders Green.
The volunteer emergency vehicles were parked outside the Machzike Hadath synagogue when the fire broke out in the early hours, with oxygen cylinders exploding and forcing 34 residents from nearby homes. No injuries were reported.
Counter-terror police are leading the inquiry and two British men arrested over the blaze have since been released on bail.
After the incident and a surge in hate crime against Jewish people, Israel has raised concerns that antisemitism is “spreading like wildfire” in the UK.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar said the situation in Britain "requires treatment at its roots", during a phone call with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
The UK Government pledged its "unwavering commitment" to tackle rising antisemitism in response to the incident, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling for communities to "all stand together" .
There were 106 religious hate crimes per 10,000 population targeted at Jewish people in the year to March 2025, the Home Office said in figures published in October.
In a post on X, Mr Sa'ar said: "In a call with British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, I expressed concern over the rise in violent antisemitic incidents in the UK.
"I referred to the arson attack on ambulances belonging to the 'Hatzalah' organisation last week.
"Antisemitism in the UK, as well as in other countries, is spreading like wildfire and requires treatment at its roots.”
The warnings comes as tensions continue to escalate in the Middle East, with waves of drones, missiles and airstrikes launched by the US, Israel and Iran in recent weeks targeting military sites, key infrastructure and other targets.
With the conflict in its fifth week, Donald Trump appeared to be seeking an off-ramp to end it, trumpeting alleged talks with Tehran, which have been denied, while sending thousands of US troops to the region to up the threat of military action.
The Iran war, which comes amid the Gaza conflict, has caused economic turmoil in countries around the world as Tehran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz through which a fifth of the globe’s oil is transported.
