Antisemitic Incidents Nearly Double in UK Since October 2023 Hamas Attack
A new report by the Community Security Trust (CST) reveals a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across the United Kingdom, documenting 1,926 cases in the first half of 2026 alone. This figure marks the second-highest number ever recorded for a January to June period and represents a 21% increase compared to the same period last year. The total also surpasses the number of incidents recorded throughout the entire year of 2022. CST warns that antisemitism in the UK has reached unprecedented levels since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and is no longer a temporary spike but a sustained reality.
The report highlights that the monthly average of antisemitic incidents nearly doubled from 161 before October 7 to 321 in early 2026. Each of the first six months of 2026 saw over 200 incidents, with four months exceeding 300, levels previously seen mainly during conflicts involving Israel. The escalation correlates with the war involving Israel, the US, and Iran that began on February 28, 2026, after which incidents surged by 71% in the following week and increased by 24% compared to the pre-conflict period.
The CST report details a series of violent attacks against the Jewish community, including arson attempts on synagogues and ambulances, and a stabbing attack in Golders Green injuring two visibly Orthodox Jews, classified as a terror attack. Physical assaults rose by 82% to 135 cases, with nearly 7% of all incidents involving physical violence, up from 4% the previous year. Children were disproportionately affected, comprising 38% of known-age victims, with some attacks involving child perpetrators.
The report also notes that not all criticism of Israel is antisemitic; only incidents combining anti-Israel or anti-Zionist rhetoric with antisemitic language or targeting Jews as Jews were counted. Of the total incidents, 41% referenced Israel, Palestinians, the October 7 massacre, or the war, all containing antisemitic elements. Online antisemitic incidents reached a record 680 in six months, with 86% featuring conspiracy theories or ideological antisemitism.
Jewish institutions were frequent targets, with 117 incidents affecting synagogues or worshippers and 178 incidents in educational settings, a 59% increase from the previous year. CST CEO Mark Gardner expressed concern over the threats from various extremist groups and foreign actors like Iran. British Home Secretary Sarah Jones condemned antisemitism as contrary to national values and pledged to protect Jewish communities. The UK government announced a £250 million investment over three years to enhance security at Jewish schools, synagogues, and community centers.
