LONDON – British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed mounting alarm Thursday regarding foreign nations employing proxy groups to execute attacks within the United Kingdom, vowing to introduce new laws in response to recent incidents.
The capital has experienced multiple attacks in recent weeks – primarily involving arson – targeting locations with Jewish connections. Counter-terrorism investigators are examining several of these cases, though law enforcement officials state they are not presently classified as terrorist acts.
UK officials have increasingly identified hostile foreign government activity as a factor behind recent events, cautioning that international governments may attempt to work through criminal organizations or intermediaries to avoid direct responsibility.
“I’m increasingly concerned that a number of countries are using proxies for attacks in this country,” Starmer stated during his visit with Jewish community members at Kenton United Synagogue, which suffered an arson attack this past Sunday.
The blaze resulted in minimal smoke damage to one interior room with no reported injuries. On Tuesday, a 17-year-old British youth entered a guilty plea to arson charges that did not endanger lives in relation to the incident.
“We have to deal with malign state actors,” the Prime Minister declared, emphasizing that addressing this threat would require new government legislation.
“I want this country to be a place where everybody feels safe and secure. This is not just a battle for the Jewish community,” Starmer emphasized. “It is our battle. The Britain that I want is a Britain where people can practice their religion, their faith, in safety and security.”
