Jewish charity reports rise in UK antisemitism since Iran war outbreak
Hate incidents including assaults and arson attacks soar 21% in the first six months of 2026 from a year earlier.
London has witnessed a 21% surge in antisemitic incidents in the first six months of 2026, according to a Jewish charity report. The Community Security Trust (CST) documented 1,926 hate incidents from January to June, marking the second-highest total for any half-year. This spike is attributed to the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran.
Mark Gardner, CST's chief executive, warned that these attacks are not only directed at British Jews but also target the nation's society as a whole. The organization reported 1,598 incidents in the same period last year. The Golders Green stabbing, which occurred in April, triggered a surge in daily antisemitic attacks and abuse, with the charity recording 71 incidents in the three days following the event, 16 of which directly referenced the attack.
Some incidents celebrated the violence and promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories. A group linked to Tehran, the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia), claimed responsibility for seven attacks. In one incident, Hatzola ambulances, a Jewish charity providing emergency services, were torched in Golders Green.
The UK government sanctioned the group in July. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) Qods Force was accused of backing antisemitic attacks by HAYI. Policing minister Sarah Jones described the numbers as "appalling" and pledged a record £250 million to enhance policing in Jewish neighborhoods.
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