Rioting in London threatens Jewish communities

It is now Day 3 of the London riots. Gas stations have been closed. Blackberry is considering shutting down service as rioters are using BBM’s to communicate with one another. Deaths have been confirmed and there is no end in sight.

On Tuesday, the members of Stamford Hill, a large Jewish community in London, were warned against walking the streets alone and were instructed to be extra careful when going to Synagogue for Tisha B’Av.

Arutz Sheva was contacted by a Jewish London resident to inform them that Jewish businessman and professionals are not able to travel to nearby offices due to overcrowding and looting. She shared that although the riots haven’t reached Stamford Hill yet, they have reached to a neighbouring community that houses thousands of Orthodox Jews.

Police are desperately trying to regain control. The Government has ordered the police presence be almost tripled- from six thousand to sixteen thousand. The police managed to stop a riot from getting out of control in Golders Green, another Jewish community.

Prime Minister David Cameron has asked the House of Commons to break from summer vacation to attend an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss the goings-on and organize an effective plan to cease rioting.

Anti-Semitism has been added to the reports as well. The London Guardian pointed out that several hareidi religious Jews attended one of the riots, while the newspaper did not single out any other religious groups.