Met report ‘massive increase’ in anti-Semitic hate crimes and incidents in wake of Hamas attacks on Israel, with nearly 200 recorded by police compared to just 26 in the same period last year
London has seen nearly eight times more antisemitic incidents in recent weeks compared to the same period last year, the Metropolitan Police said today.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said the force recorded 14 antisemitic incidents and 12 antisemitic offences from September 30 to October 13 2022. The corresponding figures for this year were 105 and 75.
He told a media briefing: ‘That is a massive increase in antisemitic crime and incidents.
‘In balance, we have seen an increase in Islamophobic incidents, but nothing like the scale of the increase in antisemitism.’
He said offences in the past week include intimidation outside synagogues and loud playing of German military music.
Private security guards employed by the Community Security Trust, a charity that helps protect Jews from antisemitism, patrol Golders Green in North London today
The CST has received money from the government to help pay for increased security in Jewish areas
Rishi Sunak, speaking to broadcasters today in Gotland, Sweden, condemned the ‘disgusting’ rise in antisemitism
He added: ‘It really is everything from that real, basic antisemitic language to some thoroughly offensive behaviour that we saw on Monday evening, where Jewish individuals were confronted by members of a protest group, effectively playing up the issues in Israel and laughing about the number of deaths of Jewish citizens in Israel.’
The Met has 1,000 officers dedicated to ‘reassurance and security patrols’ in the wake of ‘significant concern’ among Londoners which the force anticipates will continue for a ‘fairly long period of time’.
It also plans to have visited every synagogue in the city by the end of today, and has met 2,000 parents as well as pupils and schools’ leaders, amid worries about the safety of young people.
More than 1,000 officers will be in place to police a pro-Palestinian protest over the weekend, which thousands of people are expected to attend.
Protesters have been warned flying a flag in support of Hamas is an offence which will lead to an arrest.
READ MORE – Foreign students and academics who praise Hamas or commit anti-Semitic acts risk being expelled from Britain
Mr Taylor added: ‘We will not tolerate celebration of terrorism and death.’
Nine Jewish schools in London closed today amid fears for their pupils’ safety, Jewish News reported.
Other Jewish schools in London have already taken precautions, including cancelling detentions and withdrawing the requirement to wear school blazers on their journey in.
Today, Rishi Sunak condemned the ‘disgusting rise’ in antisemitism following Hamas’s attack on Israel on Saturday.
The Prime Minister said intimidating behaviour and inciting violence or hatred will not be tolerated and will instead be met ‘with the full force of the law’.
Meanwhile, Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said the Government is working closely with a ‘small number’ of Jewish schools, which have temporarily shut due to safety fears, to ensure they can open safely.
Donna Jones, chairwoman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said Mr Sunak yesterday chaired a meeting attended by Cabinet ministers and senior police officers in which they discussed concerns over policing a pro-Palestine protest planned for the weekend in central London.
The Metropolitan Police anticipate more than 10,000 people attending.
Mr Sunak, speaking to broadcasters in Gotland, Sweden, where he is attending the Joint Expeditionary Force summit, said: ‘Yesterday I chaired a meeting of police chiefs in Downing Street, together with the Community Security Trust, to specifically make sure that everybody in our Jewish communities can feel safe.
‘There’s been a quite frankly disgusting rise in antisemitic incidents over the past few days. That’s not right.
‘We have provided extra funding to the Community Security Trust to make sure that Jewish institutions – whether that’s synagogue or schools – have all the protection they need and the police have all the support that they need to ensure that our streets are safe for people from all communities.
Police Community Support Officers offer a visible presence to ‘reassure the community’ in a predominantly Jewish area near Broughton Park in Salford on Tuesday
‘Because we will absolutely not tolerate people inciting hatred, or violence or racist activity. Intimidating or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated.
‘It will be met with the full force of the law.’
READ MORE – Outrage as women tear down posters of children kidnapped by Hamas and shout ‘This is for Palestine’
Asked if waving Palestinian flags or saying ‘free Palestine’ in public could constitute a crime, Mr Sunak said: ‘There’s very clear guidance for the police about the measures that they can take, but inciting violence, racial hatred, is illegal.
‘People who are acting in an abusive or threatening manner, causing distress, are breaking the law.
‘The police have the power and the tools that they need to ensure they can stop that from happening and you will see that in full force in the coming days to make sure anyone who breaks the law meets the full force of that law.’
Ms Keegan said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday: ‘I’m extremely concerned that a small number of Jewish schools have decided to close temporarily due to safety concerns.
‘We’re working closely with these schools to offer support and ensure they can open safely.
‘Nothing will stand in the way of us keeping the Jewish community safe.’
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