All Jewish schools and synagogues across the country, but particularly in the North London area, have increased their security
Concerned chiefs of a Jewish primary school have launched a GoFundMe appeal to raise cash for extra security measures as it was revealed that crack ex-paras are being been drafted in to be part of protection teams.
All Jewish schools and synagogues across the country, but particularly in the North London area, have increased their security. It comes as police investigate whether a shadowy organisation linked to Iran – HAYI – is responsible for paying British Iranians to carry out anti-semitic attacks.
Former Royal Marines and veterans of the Parachute Regiment have now been hired in the wake of recent attacks. One tennis club in the area has even employed a former special services operative to guard their players as they have a large Jewish membership.
The deployment of former elite troops can be revealed after the stabbing of two Jewish men in a suspected terrorist attack in Golders Green and a string of fire bombings.
At the Alma school fundraising appeals have even incredibly successful -with 320 separate donations raising £43,000 of a £50,000 target.
Sam Bianco, co-chair of Friends of Alma, said “Everyone is really shaken by this incident. I am also a member of Finchley Reform Synagogue (where there was recently an attempted arson attack), so then to have this at the school where my children are is really disturbing. We just want to keep our children safe.”
While stressing that the current security measures were “robust and the children are safe”, Sam said the additional security was about “future-proofing the school”.
The 130 school families of the state school have already raised £43,000 since the fundraiser started, but Sam said she was hoping that the wider Jewish community would now help them “get over the line”.
Shimrit Sivan Peleg, her co-chair, said: “What we are seeing is not only urgency – it is the strength of a community that has been built with care, trust and open communication over time.”
Sam added: “I feel so proud that we have managed to get to where we are with just 130 families, but none of us should have to be spending our time raising money for security – we should just be focusing on education.”
In the school’s financial appeal they said: “We want to be clear: the Community Security Trust (CST) has reviewed our site and reassured us that our current security is robust. “But the threat landscape is changing, and CST has advised that upgrades to our CCTV, fencing and wider physical security infrastructure are needed to future proof our school’s security.
“These upgrades come at a cost – one that our school simply cannot fund by itself. Statutory costs, staffing, and the day-to-day demands of running a school leave little room for capital investment of this scale.
“CST have indicated that they are likely to fund up to 50% of the costs for the work that needs to be done, however this leaves an estimated shortfall of approximately £50,000.
“We – the Friends of Alma parent body – are therefore launching an urgent campaign to ensure our school stays ahead of the threat, not behind it. We need to raise £50,000 in one week.
“Every pound goes directly to work that will make a real, visible difference to the safety of our whole school community.
Last week the Mirror revealed how some pupils had been forced to learn a “Sleeping Lions” game in which they sought safety in classrooms and toilets in preparation for a potential terror attack.
Local Labour MP Dan Tomlinson said: “The Jewish community is a fantastic asset to the UK. We must take all steps to protect it.”
Asked if he supports having paras and special forces people joining security ops for Jews he said: “I am very much in favour of anyone with these skills being part of the Community Security Trust, and of using these skills in protecting Jewish people and property.
“I support the right to protest, but we need to take action against any hate spread on marches throiugh London and other cities.
“Also, the government has spoken about the Iran’s ‘malign influence’. I am therefore very pleased the governemnt will outlaw the IRGC in the coming session of parliament.
“I’ve been trying to get the IRGC declared a terrorist organistion since I was elected in 2024. It has killed thousands in Iran and Iran has been alleged to be behind plots in the UK and elsewhere.”
“All this helps. But it is also key to tackle the root causes of anti-Semitism in the UK.”
Hiring former marines and Paras, the traditional recruitment pool for special forces, is costing tens of thousands and illustrates the acute level of concern at a time when police resources are also stretched.Most Jewish institutions have historically relied on volunteers or ordinary security guards.
However, the Community Security Trust which safeguards British Jews and distributes Home Office funding, has engaged a private contractor whose staff are mainly drawn from the armed forces, including elite fighting units in the Royal Navy and army.
The former troops are believed to have been deployed to protect Jewish sites for a brief period after the Heaton Park synagogue attack in Manchester in October, in which two worshippers were killed.
Last Thursday the government raised the terrorism threat level from substantial to severe, meaning another attack is “highly likely”. MI5 said there was an “elevated threat to Jewish and Israeli individuals and institutions”.
A group calling itself the Islamic Movement of the People of the Right Hand (or Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, Hayi) is being investigated for its links to recent alleged terror attacks. Some of the arrests made following recent arson attacks have been young men and teenagers.
