Tensions in Whitechapel- Anarchism and Socialism

Anarchism: the political idea that people would be better off without the government and without laws

Within Europe, there were a series of attempted assassinations and bomb attacks which the newspapers blamed on anarchists. The idea of anarchism was developed by Russian revolutionaries  and therefore some politicians emphasised the treat of Jewish immigration and radicalism. Furthermore, this encouraged the authorities and public to be suspicious of Jewish immigrants that fled into England in large numbers- fleeing from Russia after facing persecution. 

Rumors of a Russian anarchist Jew was responsible for similar murders in France and was now living in England circulated. There was no serious connection between the anarchist and the Ripper murder but the police were worried about their ability to keep an eye on the activities of the Jews in Berner street especially as many were carried out in Yiddish

Socialism: a political and economic system in which property and resources are owned and controlled by the state

Some Jewish immigrants brought radical political beliefs and, to the fear of the authorities who feared a socialist movement which could could perhaps encourage unrest and revolution, set up socialist organisations, newspapers, strikes and demonstrations (demanding shorter working hours and better pay in workshops). The police in Whitechapel were busy dealing with such groups. 

Some people began to blame the ripper murders on a Jewish man when the body of a victim was found in the yard of one of the theaters in which a socialist newspaper was set up