Met Police in hot water as London braces for protests and antisemitism-linked incidents; policing and public safety under the microscope in the capital.
Prince Harry has written in the New Statesman about rising antisemitism in Britain, saying it is deeply troubling and that legitimate protest over Middle East events must not translate into hostility toward Jewish communities. The piece follows a surge in antisemitic incidents in London and growing concerns amid pro-Palestinian protests. The coverage spans reactions from police, faith leaders and Jewish communal bodies as Britain grapples with safety and free expression.
On March 4, 2026, UK police arrested three men aged 39, 43, and 68 in London and Wales on suspicion of assisting China's foreign intelligence service, violating the National Security Act 2023. The investigation is ongoing with no imminent public threat. One suspect is linked to Labour MP Joani Reid, who denies involvement. The arrests heighten tensions amid UK-China espionage concerns.
A child has been detained in South Yorkshire over social media posts encouraging violent confrontations between school groups, part of a wider UK trend. Police have monitored and disrupted the online activity, which originated in London and spread nationally, raising concerns about youth violence and online safety.
On March 19, 2026, two men, Nematollah Shahsavani and Alireza Farasati, were charged in London under the UK's National Security Act for allegedly conducting hostile surveillance on Israeli and Jewish sites between July and August 2025. The suspects face accusations of spying on embassies, synagogues, and community centers on behalf of Iranian intelligence. Both remain in custody pending trial.
A 58-year-old man, now residing in the UK, faces charges of murder, torture, and crimes against humanity linked to his role in suppressing protests in Syria's Damascus suburb in 2011. This marks the first time such charges are brought under UK law for international crimes committed abroad.
British authorities have charged Salem al-Salem, a former Syrian Air Force Intelligence colonel, with war crimes including murder and torture related to 2011 protests in Damascus. He appeared via video with a breathing tube due to illness. This marks the first UK prosecution of its kind for crimes against humanity committed abroad.
On March 11, 2026, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood approved a police request to ban the annual Al Quds Day march in London, citing risks of serious public disorder amid ongoing Middle East conflicts. The ban, the first on a protest march since 2012, also applies to counter-protests. A stationary rally will be permitted under strict police conditions.
Pro-Palestinian protests in London were restricted amid fears of disorder linked to ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Iran. Authorities banned a march for the first time since 2012, citing security concerns, while allowing static demonstrations on both sides of the River Thames. Police made 12 arrests during the events.
London police are managing multiple protests related to Al-Quds Day, with authorities deploying over 1,000 officers. The events include a banned march by the Islamic Human Rights Commission and counter-protests, with police using the River Thames as a barrier to prevent clashes amid tensions over Iran and Palestine support.
On March 23, four ambulances belonging to the Jewish volunteer service Hatzola in Golders Green, London, were set on fire in an antisemitic arson attack. Police seek three suspects. Separately, a fire at a Czech arms manufacturer’s warehouse in Pardubice, linked to drone tech used by Ukraine, is under terrorism investigation with three suspects detained in Czechia and Slovakia.
Large groups of young people gathered in Clapham, south London, causing disorder over several days. Police responded with dispersal orders, arrests, and increased patrols. The incidents, fueled by social media trends, led to shop closures and concerns among residents. Authorities warn of further unrest during the Easter holidays.
On April 4, three young men—Hamza Iqbal, 20, Rehan Khan, 19, and a 17-year-old dual British-Pakistani national—were charged with arson and reckless endangerment for a March 23 fire that destroyed four ambulances in Golders Green, London. The attack targeted Hatzola ambulances near a synagogue and is being investigated as an antisemitic hate crime. A fourth suspect was also arrested. The case is led by counterterrorism police but not classified as terrorism. The defendants will appear at the Old Bailey on April 24.
On April 11, 2026, London's Metropolitan Police arrested 523 protesters supporting Palestine Action during a sit-down demonstration in Trafalgar Square. The group was banned as a terrorist organisation in July 2025, but the High Court ruled the ban unlawful in February 2026. Despite this, police resumed arrests in late March as the government appeals the ruling. Over 3,000 arrests have been made since the ban.
Somali police have conducted a counter-terrorism operation in Lower Shabelle, killing militant leader Zakariye and wounding two others. The operation aims to disrupt Al-Shabaab's illegal taxation and militant activities, seizing weapons and receipts. It follows recent increased militant activity and ongoing efforts supported by international partners.
Since early April 2026, multiple attempted arson attacks have targeted synagogues and Jewish community sites in north London, including Finchley, Golders Green, Hendon, and Kenton. Police have arrested two suspects linked to an attack on Finchley Reform Synagogue. A pro-Iranian group has claimed responsibility for several incidents. Authorities have increased security and counter-terrorism efforts.
London police have reported multiple arson attempts targeting Jewish and Iranian-linked sites over the past week. Authorities are investigating these incidents, which are not currently classified as terrorism, but are linked to rising tensions related to Iran. Several suspects have been arrested, and the investigation is ongoing.
Police in London have charged three British nationals over an attempted arson at Iran International's offices in Wembley. The incident involved a container thrown towards the premises, which landed in a car park and caused no injuries or damage. The suspects are due in court today amid rising tensions linked to recent attacks on Jewish and Iranian community sites.
Police in the UK have arrested two teenagers following a series of arson attacks on Jewish sites, including a synagogue in Harrow. The incidents are linked to a newly formed Iran-backed group, Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya, which claims responsibility for multiple attacks across Europe. Authorities suspect Iran is hiring local criminals to carry out these acts as part of a broader proxy war.
A 17-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to arson at Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow. The attack is part of a series of recent arson incidents targeting Jewish sites across the UK, with police investigating possible links to Iran and Islamist groups. No injuries have been reported.
Police have arrested a 46-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman in Romford as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation into a suspected arson attack on a memorial wall in Golders Green. The wall was not damaged; detectives have linked the probe to a wider series of attacks on Jewish-linked sites in north-west London.
A man has been arrested after two people were stabbed in Golders Green, northwest London. Shomrim says the suspect was detained by volunteers before police tasered him and took him into custody. Hatzola is treating the injured; CST has noted an earlier arson attack on Jewish sites in the area. This is developing.
Two Jewish men have been hospitalised after a suspected terror stabbing in Golders Green. A 45-year-old Somali-born UK national has been arrested; police treat the incident as terrorism. Ministers say £25m more will fund protective measures around synagogues and community sites, with broader tightening of counter-extremism powers under consideration.
The government has announced 25 million pounds to increase police patrols and protection around synagogues, schools and community centers after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green. The attackers have been labeled as terrorism suspects, and investigators are exploring possible links to arson attacks and Iranian proxies. Victims are in stable condition; one attacker remains in custody as counterterrorism police lead the inquiry.
A 45-year-old man, Essa Suleiman, has been charged with multiple counts of attempted murder and possession of a bladed article after two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green, north London. He has also been charged over an earlier south London incident. The suspect has been remanded and the UK terrorism threat level has been raised to "severe."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has signalled that certain pro-Palestinian protests could be halted in the UK, citing a cumulative impact on Britain's Jewish community. He has called for tougher action on chants such as “globalise the intifada” and says some demonstrations may be stopped altogether. Police say the threat to Britons is serious and has intensified after recent attacks in London.
Authorities report a surge in antisemitic incidents in London, including stabbings, arson at Jewish sites and harassment videotaped for social media. Police have expanded protection with a new community protection team and heightened investigations into possible Iran-linked involvement.
The debate over live facial recognition has intensified as authorities weigh stricter rules and public concerns. Scotland is considering a bespoke code of practice, while the Home Office is exploring a broader national framework. Polls show mixed public views on rollout.
An elderly crossing guard, Jean Schultz, has died after pushing two children out of the path of a vehicle in Woodland Park, New Jersey. The incident occurred near an intersection where Schultz and two schoolchildren were crossing; the children are in stable condition and Schultz has died from her injuries.