In a disturbing series of incidents that has shaken London’s Jewish community and drawn condemnation from across the country, a 37-year-old man has been charged after a string of antisemitic attacks targeting synagogues and other Jewish premises in the Golders Green area of Barnet, north-west London. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that between September 4 and September 11, 2025, seven Jewish premises—including four synagogues and a private residence—were targeted in separate attacks, with substances, later confirmed to be bodily fluids such as faeces and urine, smeared on buildings and a liquid thrown towards a local school and over a car.
The suspect, identified as Ionut-Cristian Bold, of no fixed address, now faces a slew of charges: six counts of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage, one count of racially or religiously aggravated harassment without violence, three counts of destroying or damaging property, and one count of having an article with intent to destroy or damage property. Bold is due to appear at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Monday, September 15, 2025, where he will enter his plea, as reported by multiple outlets including BBC and Sky News.
According to the Metropolitan Police, the attacks began to come to light on the morning of September 3, when officers were called to a report of religiously-motivated criminal damage at a synagogue. Further incidents soon followed: in the early hours of September 4 at a private property, on September 7 at another synagogue, and at around 2am on September 8, when a liquid was thrown at a school. Additional attacks were reported on September 2 and overnight on September 11, when substances were smeared on two more synagogues. Through further investigation, officers linked a seventh incident from August 15, 2025, where a liquid was thrown over a car associated with a fifth synagogue.
The Community Security Trust (CST), a Jewish charity that advises Britain’s Jewish population on matters of security, confirmed that the substances used in some of the attacks were faeces and urine. The CST described the incidents as “utterly abhorrent and deeply distressing.” A spokesperson for the organization stated, “The extreme defilement of several Jewish locations in and around Golders Green is utterly abhorrent and deeply distressing.”
Community leaders and law enforcement officials alike have reacted with outrage and concern. Detective Superintendent Katie Harber, who is leading the investigation for the North West Command, condemned the attacks in the strongest terms, saying, “These are revolting and appalling acts.” Superintendent Zubin Writer, head of local policing in Barnet, Brent, and Harrow, emphasized the seriousness with which police are treating the case: “We will always treat allegations of this nature extremely seriously and these charges follow an investigation by a team of local officers.” He added, “We continue to offer support to local residents, including members of the Jewish community.”
The Campaign Against Antisemitism, another major advocacy group, expressed alarm at the impact such attacks are having on the country’s Jewish population. “These repeated incidents are leaving British Jews anxious and vulnerable in their own neighbourhoods, not to mention disgusted,” a spokesperson said. The organization’s comments echo a broader sense of anxiety and unease among Jewish residents in the wake of these targeted acts.
Golders Green, a neighborhood with a significant Jewish population, has long been considered a center for Jewish life in London. The recent spate of attacks has heightened fears and led to increased calls for vigilance. The CST and other community organizations have stepped up efforts to advise and protect local residents, working closely with police to monitor threats and respond to incidents swiftly.
This latest wave of antisemitic vandalism comes at a time when Britain is already grappling with a marked rise in antisemitic incidents. According to the CST, levels of antisemitism across the country soared following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. The charity reported more than 3,500 antisemitic incidents in 2024, making it the second-worst year for such hate crimes in the UK’s recent history. In a February statement, the CST noted, “more than 3,500 antisemitic incidents” had been recorded since the escalation of the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The international context cannot be ignored. The war in Gaza, which erupted after Hamas kidnapped 251 Israeli citizens, has resulted in devastating loss of life, with over 64,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli military operations, according to figures cited by Sky News. The conflict has reverberated far beyond the Middle East, fueling tensions and, as these incidents demonstrate, sparking a surge in hate crimes and bigotry in communities across Europe, including the UK.
For many British Jews, the attacks in Golders Green are not isolated events but part of a troubling pattern. The CST and the Campaign Against Antisemitism both point to a climate of heightened fear and vulnerability, with some community members expressing reluctance to attend religious services or send their children to Jewish schools. As one CST spokesperson put it, “The extreme defilement of several Jewish locations in and around Golders Green is utterly abhorrent and deeply distressing.”
Law enforcement agencies have responded by increasing patrols and working closely with community groups to reassure residents and deter further attacks. Superintendent Zubin Writer reiterated the police’s commitment, stating, “We will always treat allegations of this nature extremely seriously, and these charges follow an investigation by a team of local officers.” He also stressed the ongoing support being offered to local residents, especially those directly affected by the attacks.
The details of the case against Ionut-Cristian Bold are expected to be laid out in court on Monday. The charges against him, which include both criminal damage and harassment aggravated by racial or religious hostility, reflect the gravity with which authorities are treating the matter. The police investigation remains ongoing, and it is not yet clear whether additional charges or suspects may emerge.
As the Jewish community in Golders Green and beyond grapples with the aftermath of these “revolting and appalling acts,” the broader issue of antisemitism in Britain remains at the forefront of public debate. The rise in hate crimes, set against the backdrop of international conflict and domestic tensions, has prompted renewed calls for vigilance, solidarity, and swift justice for those who perpetrate such offenses.
For now, the focus remains on supporting the victims, holding the alleged perpetrator to account, and ensuring that the streets of Golders Green—and all of London—are safe for everyone, regardless of their faith.
