1 min read
ByDavid Delew, David Delew
After last week's dreadful events in Paris, our immediate task at CST is to ensure the best possible security, and to ask our community to be alert, but not in a state of panic.
Events in Paris are a brutal confirmation of why we do our work. It is why thousands of volunteers have been trained and millions of pounds invested. It is exactly why we need everybody's continuing support in the security effort.
In 2012, I was CST's northern regional director, in Manchester, when two jihadists were convicted of plotting a bombing campaign against Jews in the north of the city. I know how close we came to tragedy, my concern fuelled by the deadly attack on the Ozar Hatorah school in Toulouse in March that year.
After Toulouse, we intensified all our work at Jewish schools. It showed, in the worst possible way, why we and our community had been right to invest so heavily in security measures, and why it is that CST is now an integral part of the initial planning for any new large communal buildings.
In 2003, we visited Istanbul after two synagogues were attacked by large car bombs. Flying glass had caused many casualties, and we responded by moving to shatter-proof every window at every communal building across the country. This was the origin of our Security Enhancement Project. To date, we have spent over £5 million on this, upgrading security infrastructure at many hundreds of Jewish buildings.
Thousands of volunteers have been trained and millions invested
When the Jewish Museum in Brussels was attacked last year, a senior staff member flew out to join the crisis control centre: we wanted to assist however possible and learn every lesson.
This is why I say that Paris confirmed what we already know and do. I stress there is no concrete information suggesting that British Jews are under greater threat now than we were two weeks ago, but we know this latest tragedy may inspire our own local jihadists to copy what they have seen.
You have my assurance that CST and our communal partners will continue making every effort to secure our community, working with excellent co-operation from police and government. It is a long-term challenge, one we have faced since 2000. During this time, despite the threats, our communal life has flourished. We at CST are determined to keep protecting those achievements, and I invite you to play your part.
David Delew is Chief Executive of CST