Archbishop of Canterbury condemns antisemitic convoy where drivers shouted “F*** the Jews…rape their daughters” through megaphone

The Archbishop of Canterbury has condemned the convoy of cars where drivers shouted “F*** the Jews…rape their daughters” through a megaphone last weekend.

Archbishop Justin Welby, who is the most senior clergyman in the Church of England, tweeted: “There can be no excuse for the appalling antisemitism we have seen in the UK today.

“Such hatred here will not help bring long overdue peace with justice in Israel/Palestine. As we continue to pray for the Holy Land we must reject violence, the threat of violence and antisemitism.”

Four men were arrested and bailed on suspicion of shouting “F*** the Jews…rape their daughters” as they drove in a convoy through Jewish neighbourhoods on Sunday, waving the flag of the Palestinian Authority.

The men are alleged to have been part of the convoy of some 200 cars displaying Palestinian Authority flags that is understood to have driven from Bradford, Sheffield and Leicester down the M1 motorway before veering into Hendon and Golders Green, two of North London’s Jewish neighbourhoods. According to witnesses, convoy participants shouted to Jewish passers-by “Free Palestine! Go back to Poland” and other antisemitic chants.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of Home Office statistics shows that an average of over three hate crimes are directed at Jews every single day in England and Wales, with Jews almost four times more likely to be targets of hate crimes than any other faith group.