‘We want the community to feel safe’: Heightened security around synagogues, mosques and other places of worship says LPS

The London Jewish and Muslim communities are on alert after a shooting at a Toronto-area synagogue. CTV London’s Bryan Bicknell has the story.

It’s become the new normal at Jewish synagogues and community centres, and London is no different. Violence abroad, anxiety at home, followed by heightened security.

Jewish London Ontario executive director Dean Lavi, says sadly, they’ve become used to it.

“There’s not a Jewish institution worldwide today that doesn’t have security regularly. And that’s the lived experience in London right now,” he said.

Lavi was reacting to an attack of gunfire Monday night on a synagogue in the Greater Toronto Area, while people were inside. No injuries were reported.

It comes in wake of rising violence in the Middle East.

In the meantime, officials at the London Muslim Mosque are condemning the violence against a place of worship.

“It’s unfortunate that every time something happens overseas it spills over here,” said Nader Abdelmajed, the operations manager at the Mosque.

London Police Superintendent Dave Pratt says just having a police presence can give people a greater sense of safety and security when tensions are running high.

“We want the community to feel safe, and we’re concerned for their well-being. So we want to make sure we have resources in place to monitor the areas and show a presence,” he said.

The LPS said it is “closely monitoring the evolving situation in Iran and its potential impacts locally,” and to expect increased police presence around places of worship and community and gathering spaces.

The London Muslim Mosque also wants faithful to know it’s exercising vigilance.

“Parents, every time this happens they reach out and say ‘oh have you guys heightened security at the mosque?’ We always say yes, because, events like that, we become more vigilant,” said Abdelmajed.

Lavi stressed that Jewish London and the Jewish Community Centre have a great working relationship with the LPS.

“All of our evening events and all of our afternoon events will have security, which again, has been an unfortunate reality over the past few years,” he said.