Jewish community tensions rise

Stamford Hill locals are remaining alert

The stabbing of a young Jewish man in Stamford Hill, north London, has increased tensions among a sizeable community already nervous at events in the Middle East. BBC News Online's Chris Hamilton visited Stamford Hill to gauge the atmosphere.

Although residents hope the stabbing incident was a one-off, police have decided to step up patrols in the area.

Relations with the local Muslim community are good, but locals have reported leaflets circulating in recent weeks inciting Muslims to "kill Jews".

Community leader Rabbi Abraham Pinter said tension had increased after Monday's stabbing, and said people were being urged to remain alert to possible threats.

He told BBC News Online: "The community is obviously concerned. They are hoping that the situation will not escalate and are hoping this is a one-off incident.

I have children and grandchildren and it frightens me

Local Jewish woman

"People are just being that little bit more vigilant than they normally are."

Rabbi Pinter said the situation was not helped by extremist groups trying to take advantage of the recent outbreak of violence in the Middle East.

He has copies of a leaflet, which has been distributed locally, headed 'Appeal for Recruitment'.

It urges Muslims to attack and kill Jews, and ends with a call to attend a Trafalgar Square rally last Sunday.

"There is a lot of co-operation with local Muslim groups and, particularly when issues like this arise, we do work closely together," the rabbi said.

Talks will be held in coming days to keep the dialogue going, he added.

Visible patrols

Police are also planning to speak to leaders of both the Jewish and Muslim communities, giving them an opportunity to raise concerns and talk about issues raised by locals.

Local community officer, Sergeant Mark Gore, added: "We also have some additional police patrols, in respect of allaying these fears, by having officers on the streets who are out there and clearly visible."

Stamford Hill has a mix of communities, but is predominantly known for its Jewish population, particularly the largest community of Hassidic Jews in Europe.

Life goes on in Stamford Hill, but people are nervous

The men of this group wear distinctive long black silk coats and large black hats. Their presence in the area dates back to the 1780s.

On Tuesday shops in the centre of Stamford Hill, around the scene of Monday's stabbing, were as busy as any other day - but people were tense.

"I feel rather more nervous than before, definitely, because it's a situation out of our control," said one Jewish woman.

"Everyone lives here - Jews, Muslims - with no problems, and then someone comes here and does something like that. I have children and grandchildren and it frightens me."

A Jewish man, who said he was in business locally, said he had seen the anti-semitic leaflets circulating recently.

"On the ground relations are fine but it's when you get an explosion of violence or what has just happened, and the troublemakers try and get on the back of it.

"But I'm not frightened because most sensible people will not bring the violence onto the streets of London."

PLO condemns attack

One shopkeeper said nerves already frayed at the situation in the Middle East were now in an even worse state, but added that he was "not afraid of going outside my front door".

Another man, who said he was "worried" and now more vigilant in public, added that he had never known tension between local communities.

A spokesman for the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in London told BBC News Online: "This is very bad. We would condemn this attack.

"What happens in the Middle East should not affect what happens in Britain. People here have their freedom and this must be respected."