An investigation has been launched after Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow was allegedly ‘firebombed’ on Saturday

Police have launched an investigation after a synagogue was allegedly “firebombed” last night.

Multiple arson or attempted arson attacks have been reported on Jewish property in north-west London in the past month.

The incident at Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow on Saturday night caused minor smoke damage to an internal room but no injuries or significant structural damage, the Community Security Trust (CST) said.

The building is close to a school and children’s playground, and police were seen searching a black SUV nearby on Sunday morning.

A large cordon is in place and a forensics officer, fire investigation dogs and several plainclothes officers were working at the scene. One marked and five unmarked police cars were outside the place of worship.

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A spokesperson for the CST, the charity which monitors antisemitism and provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK, said: “We are aware of another attempted arson, this time targeting a synagogue in north London, following similar recent incidents targeting the Jewish community in Finchley, Golders Green and Hendon.

“We want to thank the Met Police and London Fire Brigade for responding quickly and for all they are doing to protect the Jewish community during this unprecedented period.

“We are supporting the affected location and are working closely with the police as they investigate and seek to identify those responsible.”

A Campaign Against Antisemitism spokesperson said: “Last night, another Jewish synagogue in London was firebombed, this time in Kenton. Thankfully, the damage was limited.” They added that this “is now terrifyingly becoming a spate of daily arson attacks on the Jewish community”.

A spokesperson for the CST, the charity which monitors antisemitism and provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK, said: “We are aware of another attempted arson, this time targeting a synagogue in north London, following similar recent incidents targeting the Jewish community in Finchley, Golders Green and Hendon.

The pub has ‘amazing views’ from its garden, according to previous customers

Home to two churches in one churchyard and a “cracking little pub” with “amazing views from the garden”, one Cambridgeshire village marries history with a modern feel. Swaffham Prior is a quaint village in East Cambridgeshire, around five miles from Newmarket.

The village is dominated by its twin churches within one graveyard – Church of St Mary and the Church of St Cyriac and St Julitta – which have served the parish since at least the 12th century.

St Mary’s Church is still a working church, but St Cyria & St Julitta offers its own unique charm. It has a 15th century octagonal bell tower and a ring of six bells.

Swaffham Prior is mentioned in the Domesday Book and features stunning houses dating back several centuries. It is also home to a local primary school and a pub called The Red Lion.

The quintessential English pub offers a selection of ales, fine wines, and home cooked food. Described by customers as a “cracking little pub” with “amazing views from the garden”, it appears to be loved by locals and visitors.

One guest wrote: “Cracking little pub. Good pints, proper food, friendly faces behind the bar. Feels like the heart of the village. Great if you want a relaxed drink or a decent feed.”

Another commented: “A true hidden gem in the heart of Swaffham Prior.” They continued: “From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with genuine warmth by both the staff and locals. It’s got that rare blend of cozy charm and character, with a roaring fire in the winter and a lovely garden for summer evenings.”

Swaffham Prior Primary School is a co-educational Church of England school, located in the central area of the village. The school describes it as a place where “learning and values are not just sown in lessons but in the whole experience of living and growing together”.

Roz Foyer, general secretary of the STUC, also warned mainstream politicians in ‘last chance saloon’ to deliver for working people.

Scotland’s leading trade unionist has warned Nigel Farage’s Reform is a “gateway drug to fascism”, ahead of next month’s Holyrood election.

Roz Foyer, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), said mainstream politicians are in the “last chance saloon” to deliver for working people amid the populist right surge.

It comes as Reform UK, led in Scotland by ex-Tory peer Malcolm Offord, looks set to win a significant number of MSPs on May 7 according to polls – and could beat Labour into second place.

Foyer claimed the rise of Reform would not improve voters’ lives but make them worse.

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Speaking ahead of the STUC’s annual congress in Dundee, starting tomorrow, she told the Sunday Mail: “We only have to look across the Atlantic to the state the US is in to see what some of those consequences could look like.

“The populist right always play the same game. They play on the dissatisfaction of people when mainstream politics fails to deliver and be bold enough to support ordinary people.

“But they are are multimillionaires bankrolled by billionaires. They’re going to cut taxes for the rich, cut our public services, cut jobs and cut away an awful lot of our rights as a population.

“They make things sound very reasonable, but ultimately parties like Reform are the gateway drug to fascism.”

The STUC, Scotland’s largest trade union body, is urging other Holyrood parties to adopt a bolder economic approach in response, tackling the cost of living and boosting jobs, industry and battered public services.

Key policies they back are scrapping and replacing council tax, increasing wealth taxes, and public ownership of energy.

Foyer added: “Our mainstream politicians are in the last chance saloon here. Working people are really angry.

“We need governments prepared to take on the bosses and the billionaires and take a more interventionist approach to the long-term security of energy, affordability, and our economic development.

“We don’t want more communities thrown on the scrapheap.”

Reform Holyrood candidate and councillor Thomas Kerr hit back: “This reads of utter delusion from Scotland’s token lefty.”

“We’ll take no lectures from the woman who owns five properties, but lectures working people for daring to want a tax cut so they have more of their hard earned cash.

“Reform is a gateway drug to common sense, Foyer is a gateway drug to 1970s socialism which has been thoroughly rejected before and will be again.”

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Audiences have described the BAFTA-winning film as “heavenly”.

A post-war film has been described as “one of the most beautiful movies ever made”. The picture follows a young Irish woman navigating between two contrasting worlds during the 1950s. Both critics and viewers have commended its emotional depth and enduring charm.

With an outstanding 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Brooklyn (2015) makes for ideal weekend viewing. The film is currently available to stream without charge on BBC iPlayer. Nevertheless, audiences have just 18 days remaining to watch it.

Set in the 1950s, young Irishwoman Eilis Lace (portrayed by Saoirse Ronan) departs her modest hometown for a fresh start in Brooklyn, attracted by the prospect of opportunities in America.

While she initially battles with homesickness, she slowly adjusts. Eilis subsequently falls in love in Brooklyn, and welcomes her newfound independence.

Yet, an unexpected family crisis summons her back to Ireland, where she finds herself drawn once more into the existence she had abandoned.

Torn between her history and her future, Eilis faces a choice between two nations and the distinctly different paths each presents.

Reviews

“In short, Brooklyn is one of the very best films of the past decade and worth looking back on,” penned Dave Giannini for InSession Film.

Awarding the film five out of five stars, Don Shanahan from Film Obsessive commented: “Brooklyn is a forthright, approachable, and esteemed historical drama where the dignity and honesty soar to heavenly heights to shine on the plights of love and independence.”

Viewers were equally effusive in their praise for the film. One remarked: “Beautiful story. One of the best movies. Moving.”

Another enthused: “Beautiful classic in every sense of the word. Outstanding performances. Atmospheric joy. Don’t miss it.”

A third wrote: “It’s a masterpiece, and profoundly moving, especially if you’re an immigrant yourself. The closing is one of the most beautiful romantic scenes ever. In my opinion.”

A final reviewer declared: “One of the most beautiful movies ever made. Colours, music, and reticence punctuate throughout. I have watched the scene in the dining room of the church 7,351,212 times.

“The man sings, the actress recognises brilliance amidst shuffles and anonymity, and then the director cuts to her chaperone listening to a radio. So god**** brilliant.”

Brooklyn is currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer by clicking here.

I AM writing to The Press in the hope that readers might be able to help me reconnect with a dear old friend and classmate, Alan Wong (Wong Ka-kui), who emigrated from Hong Kong to York around 1991.

Alan and I were close friends during our school years at Ngau Tau Kok Catholic Primary School.

We lost touch shortly after he moved to North Yorkshire to start a new chapter over 30 years ago.

I often wonder how his life has unfolded in the beautiful city of York and would dearly love to catch up on the decades we have missed.

Alan would likely be in his 50s now. Given his distinctive Chinese name (shared with a famous Hong Kong musician), I hope he might be known to the local Chinese community or long-term residents in the area.

If Alan is reading this, or if anyone knows of his whereabouts or his family, I would be deeply grateful if you could contact me via email at swtcheng@gmail.com

Finding a friend after 35 years is no easy task, but I believe in the community spirit of York to help bridge this gap.

Thank you for your time and assistance.

Tony Cheng Wai-Tung

—

‘We already get cheaper electricity from wind and solar’

REFORM and the Tories are doing a noisy sales job on new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.

In view of Trump’s war this would seem sensible – however, the facts point in the opposite direction.

The reality is that we already get cheaper electricity from wind and solar.

In March, we avoided the need for gas imports worth £1bn, thanks to record electricity generation from renewables.

Wind generation is growing year-on-year by 38 per cent – at the same time that electricity generation from gas falls annually by 25 per cent. And as a bonus, these clean sources avoid the environmental and health costs of burning fossil fuels.

Were the government to announce a fresh round of drilling licences, the impact on bills would be zero in the immediate term and minimal in the medium term.

Even if they sold straight away – which would be unlikely – it would take five to seven years for the wells to be productive.

And even if we could ringfence UK-produced energy for the UK market – which we couldn’t – it wouldn’t change the fundamental structure of that market, in which costs are predominantly set by international fossil fuel prices.

If the barrel cost of oil is surging worldwide, so is our unit price. It is ever more expensive to extract the ever smaller residual deposits from the North Sea. By the time they came onstream, electricity from renewables would be a third of the cost.

Peter Williams,

Newbiggin,

Malton

—

Why I agree with Trump

DONALD Trump rarely speaks sense but his advice to Ed Miliband for the UK to “drill, baby drill” is spot on, particularly so considering the turmoil countries worldwide are currently encountering.

Will Miliband react positively? Not a chance, neither will Reeves nor Starmer, common sense to them no longer exists, it has been replaced by a rash of costly vanity projects achieving absolutely nothing other than making everyone collectively poorer (that is apart from millions who have decided living off state benefits is more lucrative than working 40 hours per week).

Peter Rickaby,

Moat Way,

Brayton

—

A synagogue in north-west London was hit by an attempted arson attack overnight.

The Community Security Trust said Kenton United Synagogue has sustained caused minor smoke damage to an internal room but there were no injuries or significant structural damage.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow…

Royal expert and author Robert Hardman has opened up about his various encounters with the Royal Family over the past three decades and why Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was always different

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A royal expert has opened up about his various encounters with senior members of the Royal Family — and said two things made Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor stand out from the rest.

The disgraced former prince is now living in Marsh Farm after being booted out of Royal Lodge having lived there since 2003.

Further troubling revelations about his association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, along with his arrest in February under suspicion of misconduct in public office, have further cast him astray from his family.

But Robert Hardman, who has now written a new biography about the late Queen Elizabeth II, has said Andrew was always different.

He said his encounters with him were a contrast to what it was like being in the company of his nephews, parents and siblings.

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Royal commentator and author Robert, 60, who has covered 70 tours from Abu Dhabi to Ukraine, said: “Philip was fascinating and sharp — you really had to keep your wits about you. Ditto Charles. The Princess Royal is fabulous — I’ve followed her around and could barely keep up. William and Harry can effortlessly work a room, charming everyone and putting them at ease.”

And speaking to the Sunday Telegraph about his dealings with Andrew, he continued: “But Andrew just isn’t as intelligent or as articulate as the others. As trade envoy, he was forever saying disobliging things and putting his foot in it.

“He’d be at a telecoms conference and suddenly come out with the line, ‘What is Orange?’”

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Robert’s new biography is called Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside story — and it is his sixth book about the royals.

He spoke about the Queen a century after her birth and claimed it was her who first wanted her son to move out of Royal Lodge.

Robert said she “believed him” when he claimed he had cut ties with Epstein before his lies were eventually exposed and King Charles removed the titles he was granted at birth.

As for the Queen not being alive for this, Robert added: “I think one of the blessings in all this is that the Queen wasn’t around to live through the final degradation, and the brutal disgrace of a royal having their ‘princedom’ taken away.”

The broadcaster and journalist also revealed why the Queen had an “instinctive sympathy” for the “spare” Prince Harry.

He said she “always adored” her grandson and added that her father, who was suddenly led to the throne after the abdication of his brother, was a spare, as was her sister, Margaret, who she often defended.

Robert, who has reported on royals for over 30 years, claimed she was “conscious” that both Harry and Andrew had “clearly less defined roles” simply because they were the second sons.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot may well find himself under increased pressure if Liverpool lose to Everton in this weekend’s Merseyside derby. However, former Reds defender Dominic Matteo believes it would still be harsh to dismiss the title-winning boss given the wider context.

Slot delivered a Premier League title in his first season but has found things much tougher this term. Top spot is all but mathematically impossible with six games to go, while Tuesday’s defeat by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League ended any faint hopes of silverware.

Despite the difficult season, though, Matteo believes the higher-ups need to think very carefully about the manager’s position. While he acknowledges the available candidates will be a factor – and former Reds midfielder Xabi Alonso could be on the lookout for a new club after leaving Real Madrid mid-season – he recognised clear improvement in the midweek reverse and remains torn on Slot’s future.

“Arne Slot will be under a lot of pressure now because of what’s probably available,” Matteo told Mirror Football via BetSelect.co.uk. “Liverpool aren’t a sacking team, far from it, but obviously if Liverpool were to get into Europe… that would give him more of a chance [of staying]. But then would a top manager come to a club if they’re not in Europe? I don’t know.”

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He continued: “I don’t think [a sacking decision] will have been made yet. Who knows what goes on behind a football club? There’s that many people involved at every club, whether it’s Richard Hughes or whoever’s making that decision.

“But obviously, you have to look at everything and analyse everything and see if there is a better option than Arne. Obviously he won the league last year so I think it would be pretty harsh if it were to get fired before next season starts.”

Matteo believes whichever team wins their battles will come out on top on Sunday. That was Liverpool when the teams last met in the league but Jurgen Klopp lost his final Merseyside Derby and there’s a real risk another reverse for Slot could spell the end.

“Liverpool have always been favourite in Derby games of recent times [but] I think now it’s much closer,” the former Scotland international added. “I think it’ll be a game that, for the fans, because of the season and the way it’s gone, I think it’ll be very, very important for Liverpool to get this result, especially for the manager and for certain players.

“If he is to get a result and get a good result, the people behind the scenes might be thinking, Oh, ‘yeah, he is the right man to have another go… Or will they make a decision if the result goes badly and think ‘Is it time for a change at the start of next season?’.

“That’s how important this game probably is in many ways. David Moyes will be sitting there with – obviously there’s pressure in a Derby game, but I think he won’t be feeling the pressure as much as what Arne Slot will.”

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Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.