The UK Christmas bombing campaign by nine alleged terrorists primarily targeted iconic sites such as the London Stock Exchange, Big Ben, the Millennium Wheel and the American Embassy in London. The religious sites on their list included Westminster Abbey and two British synagogues and rabbis (The CST is the lead British organization dealing with Jewish security, see their information here).
Prosecutors reported that the group had conducted pre-operational surveillance of some of their potential targets and had tested explosives.
This plot echoes many of the “homegrown terror” plots here in the U.S. and is a reminder that:
- Anti-Semitism is a core component of Jihadist ideology.
- Anti-Semitism is a common tool in the radicalization process.
- Jewish-affiliated targets may be preferable for less sophisticated terrorists.
- Jewish institutions may not be priority targets, but may become secondary targets or targets of convenience.
Jewish organizations should continue to operate with heightened vigilance. Review our security resources for suggestions and guidance at: https://jcrcny2022.wpengine.com/securityresources. Timely articles include Tips on detecting hostile surveillance from our partners at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and JCRC’s Sample Building Access Policies and Procedures.