A 37-year-old man has been charged following a series of disturbing antisemitic attacks targeting Jewish synagogues and other premises in the Golders Green area of Barnet, north London. Ionut-Cristian Bold faces multiple charges, including six counts of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage, one count of harassment without violence, and additional charges related to property damage and possession of an article intended to cause damage. These offences occurred between early August and mid-September, according to the Metropolitan Police.

The attacks involved the smearing of a substance identified by community security groups as faeces and urine on four synagogues and a private residence, alongside an incident where a liquid was thrown at a Jewish school and over a car connected to another synagogue. These acts have been described by police as “revolting and appalling,” with Detective Superintendent Katie Harber emphasising the seriousness of the crimes and the ongoing investigation led by local officers.

The first reported incident took place on 3 September at a synagogue, followed by further defacements at a private property, additional synagogues, and a school over the subsequent weeks. Police responses were swift, and as a result of their inquiries, they linked a prior incident from 15 August involving a liquid attack on a vehicle linked to the Jewish community.

In response to the attacks, police have increased night patrols in Golders Green to provide additional reassurance to the Jewish community, which has expressed deep distress over the incidents. Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams confirmed that the escalation in policing is aimed at protecting local residents and deterring further offences.

These attacks add to a troubling national context of rising antisemitism in the UK. The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitic incidents, reported that 2024 was the second-worst year on record for such hate crimes, with over 3,500 incidents logged. The surge in antisemitism has been partly attributed to tensions following the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023 and the ensuing conflict in Gaza.

Community leaders have condemned the attacks strongly. A CST spokesperson described the defilement of multiple Jewish sites as “utterly abhorrent and deeply distressing,” while the Campaign Against Antisemitism highlighted the anxiety and vulnerability felt by British Jews, who now feel unsafe even in their own neighbourhoods.

The police have urged the public to assist with the investigation and have assured the community of their commitment to tackling hate crime. Bold is due to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court soon, as authorities continue their work to bring full accountability for these appalling acts.

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Source: Noah Wire Services