Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to defeat “the old hatred of antisemitism” as he announced that ambulances destroyed in an arson attack will be replaced. The Home Office is looking at stepping up police patrols in the area and could take action in other parts of the country with significant Jewish populations, the Prime Minister said.

He said MPs he felt “disgust” at the arson attack on four Jewish community ambulances in north London, telling the Commons Liaison Committee: “The idea that ambulances could be considered a target is simply horrendous.” He acknowledged the impact the attack will have on the area but also “the whole Jewish community across the country, not least because this is not an isolated incident and the rise of antisemitic hatred is there for all to see”. Sir Keir added: “The idea that we live in a society where people should feel they need to hide their identity or their religion is, frankly, abhorrent.

“Antisemitism is an old hatred, but it requires constant vigilance to overcome it.”

He said the destroyed ambulances will be replaced “tomorrow morning at the latest”.

Sir Keir said he had spoken to Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman, who asked for a greater police presence in her constituency.

He said: “We have discussed that this morning and I have already actioned some discussions with the Home Office on that … we are already taking action.”

The Prime Minister said: “This is in that constituency, but right across the country there will be concern and that is reflected in the discussions we had this morning.”

Sir Keir met Jewish community leaders in Downing Street to discuss the Golders Green incident.

Asked if Jews in Britain should feel safe at the moment, Michael Wegier, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, told the Press Association after the meeting: “Yes, we should feel safe but anxious, I think.

“There’s a very long, thousands of years, history of Jews who have, at the same time, felt anxious but felt resilient.

“I think resilience is the key word I would use to describe what the Jewish community needs now.

“I don’t think any of us would say we feel as safe as we did five years ago. There’s clearly been a decline, the figures show that.

“I am not sensing hysteria or panic in the Jewish community. The resilience is cutting through. But I think I have to be honest, we are feeling less safe than we did a few years ago.”