The London Police announced on Friday that they recorded a 1,353% increase in antisemitic crimes this month compared to the same period last year, while Islamophobia-related incidents surged by 140% following Hamas's attack on Israel. The police have intensified patrols in the British capital amid rising tensions but reported that 218 antisemitic crimes were recorded between October 1 and 18, compared to 15 in the same period of 2022. Islamophobia-related crimes rose to 101 from 42 during the same timeframe last year.
The police stated, "It is regrettable that, despite the increased presence of police officers, we have seen a significant rise in hate crimes across London." The statement added, "This includes abuse directed at individuals or groups in person or online, damage from racially or religiously motivated crimes, and other offenses." Police arrested 21 individuals on charges of hate crimes, including a man for defacing posters of missing Israelis and another for Islamophobic graffiti at bus stations.
The Community Security Trust, a charity that advises approximately 280,000 Jews in Britain on security issues, reported 457 incidents of antisemitism across the UK since the Hamas attack. The organization Tell Mama, which monitors hate crimes against Muslims, stated it received 200 reports.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said, "The conflict has a direct impact on London and its residents, with a rise in abhorrent incidents of Islamophobia and antisemitism in the capital." A number of pro-Palestinian marches are set to take place in London tomorrow, and police announced that they will be present with a thousand officers, imposing restrictions around the Israeli embassy and promising to crack down on any hate crimes.
