Britain Tightens Laws After Attacks and Rising Antisemitism

The British government has announced plans to draft new legislation to combat threats backed by foreign states, following the stabbing deaths of two Jewish men in London in an apparent antisemitic attack.

The laws would allow those acting on behalf of foreign-backed groups to be prosecuted in a similar way to foreign intelligence agents, ministers said, responding to warnings from security services about the use of criminal networks.

British police and intelligence services have warned that Iran is increasingly using criminal proxies for hostile activities, as are Russia and China. Some recent attacks have been claimed by groups linked to Iran, according to authorities. Last month, two men were charged with acting for Iran, and last year a court found three men guilty of setting fire to businesses linked to Ukraine.

The measures follow criticism from the Jewish community and the Israeli government. Authorities have reported an increasing number of attacks on Jewish targets in Britain and around the world since October 2023.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government would increase funding for the protection of synagogues, schools and community centers, and raise police presence in threatened areas.

(reuters, bak)