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Witnesses sought after man allegedly shouts abuse and directs Nazi salutes at Jewish girl on bus in London

Shomrim North West London has appealed for witnesses after a man allegedly shouted antisemitic abuse and directed Nazi salutes at a Jewish girl on a bus. The man, who is described as a short 50-year-old of Asian descent was reportedly wearing a light blue top and carrying bags containing flowers. The incident occurred yesterday evening on the number 13 bus, following which the suspect alighted at a stop on Finchley Road, near Temple Fortune.

Any witnesses should call the police on 101 or Shomrim North West London on 0300 999 1234.

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ISIS supporters reportedly call on jihadis to attack British synagogues and kosher shops and delis following terrorist attack in Jerusalem

The Sun has reported that ISIS supporters called on jihadis to attack Jewish worshippers at British synagogues during the Jewish Sabbath last Saturday. The call followed the temporary closure of the al-Aqsa Mosque and locking down of the area by Israeli security forces following themurder of two Israeli police officers in a terrorist attack in the Old City of Jerusalem. The paper cites research carried out by the Washington-based think tank, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), which reportedly uncovered disturbing antisemitic posts on Telegram, an encrypted chat service.

The posts allegedly called for the “Apes” to be prevented from “attending their places of disbelief” followed by the hashtags #synagogues, #schools and #shops. There was then a link to a Wikipedia list of British synagogues. The links were reportedly posted on the a pro-ISIS Telegram group.

Further on in the group conversation, a blood-spattered Israeli flag was allegedly posted along with a poem reading: “The sun will shine red between Gaza and Rafa, The moon will blacken over the peak at Mt. Hermon, Flowers are dead and girls become slaves, Loads of soldiers will return to town as corpses.” According to The Sun, this was followed by a list of kosher shops and delis around the UK, in London, Birmingham, Gateshead, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

In February, ISIS terrorists used Telegram to call on their supporters to terrorise Jewish communities in the West, singling out the UK.

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Police investigate after family seemingly dress as Adolf Hitler, Eva Braun and Jewish children at Orange Order affiliated fancy dress party in Scotland

The Herald Scotland has brought to light that a man and women seemingly dressed as Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun won a fancy dress competition at a Hallowe’en party organised by a flute band at the Airdrie and District Orange Hall and Social Club in Scotland in 2013. Two children at the party allegedly wore clothes branded with the yellow Star of David that Jews were forced to wear by the Nazis. A shocking group photo has emerged of the man giving the Nazi salute, standing with the woman and children.

Police Scotland confirmed to the Herald Scotland that “it was investigating the incident to determine whether a hate crime had been committed.”

Highly-offensive photos from the annual Halloween parties held in the Airdrie and District Orange Hall and Social Club in 2010 and 2013 were reportedly reposted on a public Facebook page designed to promote the activities of the Orange Order. The Herald Scotland published some of these photos which have since been deleted from Facebook.

The Herald Scotland reported that “the Orange Order has ignored calls to condemn a flute band behind a fancy dress party.” In a statement, however, the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland said that it “does not seek immunity from media criticism” but newspapers have a responsibility to be “impartial or even-handed.” It continued: “We understand that the press has a role to play, but there is a difference between holding to account and pursuing a baseless agenda to attack and demonise our Protestant culture and heritage.”

Ephraim Borowski, Director of the Scottish Council of Jewish Communities, ScoJeC, told the paper that “The meticulously-planned industrialised murder of six million people solely on the grounds of their ethnicity is not a joke, and neither is anything that glorifies those who planned it. Racism, including racism against Jewish people — antisemitism — must always be condemned in the strongest terms, and we would urge the Orange Order to do so.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism is monitoring developments closely and we are pleased that Police Scottish are taking this matter seriously.

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Gang of three allegedly verbally abuses orthodox Jewish man and throws off his traditional hat in north-east London

A Jewish man’s religious fur hat was allegedly thrown off in an antisemitic attack in north-east London. According to Stamford Hill Shomrim, a Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, the incident took place on Saturday morning between 00:15 and 00:20 in Amhurst Park in Hackney.

The alleged victim, a recognisably Jewish man, was crossing Stamford Hill from Clapton Common (near Boots chemist) towards Amhurst Park during the Jewish Sabbath. As he reached the centre crossing island, three suspects approximately 15-17 years old, crossed into the centre of the road. They allegedly started swearing at him and tried to scare him in a completely unprovoked attack. The victim continued to cross the road into Amhurst Park and just before the bus stop, one of the youths ran up behind him and chucked off his fur hat of the kind traditionally worn by some charedi (orthodox) Jews.

Stamford Hill Shomrim is assisting the victim. We are following this case with interest.

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New report by CAA shows that antisemitic crime surged 44% in the last two years, but charging and prosecution dropped to only 20 prosecutions last year

New figures obtained from all UK police forces by Campaign Against Antisemitism for its National Antisemitic Crime Audit show that hate crime targeting Jews has escalated for the third year running, reaching the worst level on record.

  • Antisemitic hate crime has surged 44% since 2014, making 2016 the worst year on record
  • 1 in 10 antisemitic crimes were violent but only one violent antisemitic crime was prosecuted in 2016
  • Almost half of police forces did not charge a single one of the antisemitic crimes reported to them
  • Only 1.9% of antisemitic crime was prosecuted — just 20 cases last year
  • The Home Secretary has issued a statement promising to “consider the report’s recommendations carefully”

In 2016, antisemitic crime rose by 14.9% against 2015, or 44.5% against 2014. There were 1,078 antisemitic crimes in 2016 and a consistently elevated level of antisemitic crime has become the new normality for British Jews.

Police forces recorded 105 violent antisemitic crimes in 2016, meaning that on average, 1 in 10 antisemitic crimes involved an act of violence against a Jewish member of the public. Violent antisemitic crime continued to disproportionately affect smaller Jewish communities outside London and Manchester, as it has in past years.

Despite promises to crack down on antisemitic crime, the number of antisemitic crimes charged in 2016 decreased drastically, again. 2016 saw the number of antisemitic crimes charged plummet by 30.5% compared to 2015, or 35.5% against 2014, when antisemitic crime began to surge. In 2016, only 89 antisemitic crimes resulted in charges being brought meaning that only 8.3% of hate crimes against Jews resulted in charges. Astonishingly, 48.9% of the police forces which received reports of antisemitic crime did not charge a single one of them.

A paltry 20 cases of antisemitic crime were prosecuted in 2016, of which only 2 were violent crimes. In 2015, 12 antisemitic crimes were prosecuted, only 3 of which involved violence. There is no prosecution data for 2014.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has recently resorted to privately prosecuting antisemites itself, and in March won a landmark judicial review against the Crown Prosecution Service over its decision not to charge a neo-Nazi.

Antisemitic crime appears to be worsening in the initial months of 2017, with incidents including the firebombing of kosher restaurants in Manchester, a man stopped by police in London after brandishing a meat cleaver and machete whilst chasing after Jews, and police closing down London’s iconic shopping streets to make way for a major pro-Hizballah march.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has had to repeat its recommendations from last year’s report this year because, despite many promises, they have not been implemented by law enforcement bodies. The recommendations are simple and include basic measures such as producing specific training and guidance on antisemitic hate crime for officers and prosecutors, instructing Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to review all police forces’ responses to antisemitic crime, appointing a senior officer in each force with responsibility for overseeing the response to antisemitic hate crime, and requiring the Crown Prosecution Service to record and regularly publish details of cases involving antisemitism and their outcomes, as police forces are already required to do.

In a statement, the Rt Hon. Amber Rudd MP, Home Secretary, responded to the report, saying: “Hate crime of any type is not acceptable. Everyone in this country has the right to be safe from violence and persecution. We are working together to tackle antisemitic hate crime in all its forms and using the full force of the law to protect every person in the UK. Our Hate Crime Action Plan has encouraged further action against hate crime across the police and criminal justice system. This includes encouraging more victims to report incidents to the police. We will consider the report’s recommendations carefully as we develop new ways to rid the country of this sickening crime.”

In the foreword to the report, Gideon Falter, Chairman of Campaign Against Antisemitism, commented: “2016 was the worst year on record for antisemitic crime, yet instead of protecting British Jews, the authorities prosecuted merely fifteen cases of antisemitic hate crime, including one solitary violent crime. The failure of police forces and the Crown Prosecution Service to protect British Jews is a betrayal. The solutions are simple, but whilst the right promises are being made, little has been implemented. The result is that British Jews continue to endure intolerable levels of hate crime. Britain has the political will to fight antisemitism and strong laws with which to do it, but those responsible for tackling the rapidly growing racist targeting of British Jews are failing to enforce the law. There is a very real danger of Jewish citizens emigrating, as has happened elsewhere in Europe unless there is radical change.”

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Police investigating graffiti on telephone booth in London describing orthodox Jews as “leeches”

Graffiti describing charedi (orthodox) Jews as “leeches” is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Service after being reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, a Jewish  volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

The graffiti was found on a telephone booth in an area of London with a large Jewish population. The graffiti included a drawing of a charedi Jew, along with the words “47 leeches”. The number 47 could be a reference to a logo used by the band Pro Era, which combined the digits 4 and 7 in a manner which resembled the swastika flag used by Nazi Germany. Neo-Nazi groups commonly use numeric codes such as 14, 18 and 88, which are usually quite simplistic, for example 18 refers to the first and eighth letters of the alphabet, which are Adolf Hitler’s initials.

British Telecom will be removing the graffiti and it has been temporarily covered. Anybody with information should call the police on 101, citing reference number 2516 of 7th July 2017.

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CPS to prosecute National Action’s Jack Renshaw after CAA declares intention to launch private prosecution

The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute National Action’s former spokesman, Jack Renshaw, after lawyers for Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to declare our intention to launch a private prosecution.

After waiting more than a year without taking action against Renshaw, the Crown Prosecution Service has now charged him after our pro bono legal team, led by Jonathan Mann QC and Pamela Reddy, partner at Simons Muirhead & Burton solicitors, wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions telling her that unless she took action, Campaign Against Antisemitism would step in and undertake the prosecution ourselves.

Renshaw, 22, was the spokesman for pro-Hitler group National Action until the Home Secretary designated National Action a proscribed terrorist organisation, at the culmination of a long campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Renshaw has now been charged with two offences of incitement to racial hatred in relation to speeches made in February and March last year, as well as his tweets.

In a video of one of Renshaw’s speeches in March last year, he is heard to say: “Now, the refugee problem is part of a bigger problem. It’s a symptom of a disease. That disease is international Jewry. In World War Two, we took the wrong side. We should have been fighting the communists. Instead, we took the side of the communists, and fought the National Socialists who were there to remove Jewry from Europe once and for all. That’s what the Final Solution was. Instead, we let these parasites live among us, and they still do. They get into our councils, they get into our institutions, they get into our parliament, they run our banks, they run all of the companies we see around us. But we let these people, we let these people destroy us, and they are still destroying us now. And we’re pointing fingers at the symptoms and not the disease. Let’s cure the disease and then cure all of the symptoms by default…You can call me Nazi, you can call me fascist, that is what I am.”

Echoing his normal rhetoric, a Twitter account allegedly operated by Renshaw was used to attack Jews, with one tweet on Boxing Day last year declaring: “Jews are financial and cultural parasites, destroying Europe. Let’s actually start the ovens this time. #Holohoax #WithJewsWeLose #NSForever”. Another tweet claimed that the Holocaust was a hoax: “2.4 million Jews were living in Nazi territories, 3.8 million of those Jews applied for reparations and 6 million died? #BasicMath #Holohoax”.

Though we are dismayed that it has taken so long for the authorities to take action against Renshaw, we are pleased that he has now been charged, and we will follow the trial with interest.

The real question is why Campaign Against Antisemitism needed to become involved at all. Last year there were a pitiful twenty prosecutions for antisemitism, despite rising hate crime targeting Jews. In this case we have succeeded in ensuring that the Crown Prosecution Service took action, but even with our legal interventions through means such as private prosecution and judicial review, far too few cases are being prosecuted. In the absence of law enforcement, antisemitism will continue to spread, antisemites will become bolder, and attacks on Jews will become more common and more ferocious. The Crown Prosecution Service must arise from its slumber and start prosecuting antisemites in meaningful numbers.

We are very grateful to our legal team for its work on this matter.

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Man charged over alleged antisemitic assault on Jewish men walking on London’s streets

A man has been charged with racially-aggravated common assault and a racially-aggravated public order offence after allegedly attacking two Jewish men in the early hours of this morning. The man, who appeared to be drunk and is believed to be an Italian in his late twenties or early thirties, saw a Jewish passerby, grabbed his side curls, and shouted in broken English, “F***ing Jew, why you kill the kids?” He then allegedly shouted “Motherf***er Jude, I want to cut your —” at a second Jewish man and made a motion as though to cut his side curls.

Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish neighbourhood watch patrol, alerted the police and the man was arrested shortly afterwards on Forburg Road.

We commend Stamford Hill Shomrim for their zero-tolerance approach. We will follow the case with interest.

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Polish man and woman arrested for allegedly punching and pushing Jewish people near a synagogue

A man and woman, both described as Polish and middle-aged, were arrested yesterday evening on Clapton Common in London after allegedly attacking Jewish people near a local synagogue. The couple, who had a dog, allegedly approached Jewish people, banging on a car, pushing two people and punching another in the face, shouting “Kurwa” (a Polish expletive) and telling them in broken English: “Dog stay here England, you Jews go away.”

Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish neighbourhood watch patrol was called and followed the assailants to Clapton Common where they were arrested on suspicion of common assault and racially aggravated public order offences.

We commend Stamford Hill Shomrim for their fast response which ensured that the suspects could be arrested.

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Man shouts antisemitic abuse at Jewish women whilst cycling down major north London shopping street

A man has been seen allegedly shouting antisemitic abuse at Jewish women on Brent Street, north London.

According to Shomrim North West London, the man shouted “F***ing c*** Jewish ladies” at two Jewish women walking down the street, as he cycled past.

Shomrim North West London has asked any witnesses to call them on 0300 999 1234 or alternatively to call the Metropolitan Police Service on 101.

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Two teenagers arrested for shouting antisemitic abuse at Jewish couple, taking man’s hat

A Jewish couple walking in Hackney at approximately 1:30 this morning was allegedly subjected to vicious antisemitic abuse at the hands of a group of teenagers, two of whom approached them shouting abuse about Jews and swearing. At one point they grabbed the Jewish man’s hat and continued to shout abuse when he asked them to give it back. The couple, who were visiting from abroad, were shaken but unharmed.

Stamford Hill Shomrim followed the teenagers, who were both male and described as “Asian” until police officers arrived to arrest them on Cazenove Road. Shomrim is assisting the victims.

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Passersby come to aid of Jewish boy as teenagers grab at his hat and bicycle, threatening to “beat” him

A 16-year-old Jewish boy sitting on a park bench in London was helped by members of the public as teenagers grabbed at his hat and bicycle, threatening to “beat” him.

The incident occurred just before 15:00 today in Springfield Park in Hackney. The Jewish boy was resting on the bench when he was allegedly approached by two younger teenagers aged approximately 14 and described as “Asian”, who grabbed at his bicycle and his hat, which is of the kind traditionally worn by charedi (orthodox) Jews. When the Jewish boy asked them to stop, he said that they threatened to “beat” him.

Members of the public came to the boy’s defence and the Metropolitan Police Service and Stamford Hill Shomrim were called to the scene. The boy told them that he was convinced that the teenagers targeted him because he was Jewish, which means that under the so-called ‘MacPherson Principle’ it must be recorded and investigated as an antisemitic hate crime.

We are grateful to the passersby who came to the boy’s assistance. It appears that recognisably Jewish schoolchildren are increasingly being targeted, including by other children, and we expect that the Metropolitan Police Service will investigate this matter as an antisemitic hate crime.

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Greater Manchester Police seeks two hooded figures after arson attacks on two kosher restaurants

Police in Manchester have appealed for witnesses following two arson attacks on kosher restaurants earlier this week, which are being investigated as antisemitic hate crimes.

According to a statement from Greater Manchester Police (GMP): “The first incident happened at Ta’am Restaurant on Bury New Road shortly before midnight on Friday 2nd June 2017 when two offenders approached and threw a milk carton filled with petrol and a lit rag at the premises. The makeshift petrol container failed to ignite before one of the offenders threw a large stone at the front window, smashing it in the process.

“The second [incident] happened at around 3:30am on Tuesday 6th June, when the offenders approached JS Restaurant on Kings Road and forced open a window before pouring accelerant inside and lighting it. The fire service was called and was able to put the fire out before any serious damage could be done to the property On both occasions the restaurants were closed and noone was injured in either of the attacks.”

JS Restaurant is the oldest kosher restaurant in Manchester. Last year, Ta’am Restaurant was also set alight.

According to the statement from GMP, “Police in Bury have launched an investigation and detectives believe the attacks are linked and are treating them as antisemitic hate crimes; however, the motive for the attacks is not clear.”

Detective Chief Inspector Charlotte Cadden of GMP’s Bury Borough said: “Our investigation is progressing and we have now released images of two people we want to speak to in connection with the arson attacks. From the images it isn’t clear how old they are but we believe they are two males and I’m hoping that they jog someone’s memory or that someone recognises the clothes they were wearing.

“We are also appealing to a woman to come forward as a potential witness. She has shoulder length brown hair and carrying a bag or possibly a parcel under her right arm, was walking near to the Mountheath Industrial estate a few minutes before the attack at Ta’am restaurant. She may be able to help us and I would ask that if you are her, you contact us.”

Police have asked anyone with information to contact them on 101 quoting incident number 206 06/06/17 or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is monitoring developments closely and we are pleased that the police are taking these incidents seriously and putting the necessary resources into the investigation.

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Man at polling station arrested after threatening to kill Jewish voter

A man has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill a Jewish man at a polling station at approximate 17:20 today.

A Jewish man arriving at a polling station on the Webb Estate near Clapton Common in north London allegedly heard a man shouting from a window above: “F***ing Jews, kill all the Jews. What are you doing here?”. The Jewish man entered the polling station, cast his vote and then asked to be escorted away from the polling station by one of the volunteers there. As he left, the suspect allegedly started shouting antisemitic abuse again, at which point the Jewish victim called Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

Shomrim attended within minutes and called the police. Whilst waiting for the police to arrive, the suspect allegedly threatened Shomrim volunteers with a crowbar, but they stood their ground until police arrived to make an arrest.

We applaud Shomrim for their swift reaction and for their bravery, which has made this arrest possible.

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Jewish activists in Brighton told “gas chambers in Auschwitz were mock-ups like Disneyland” and Jews were responsible for the slave trade

Jewish activists from Sussex Friends of Israel were told by members of the public in Brighton at the weekend that the “gas chambers in Auschwitz were mock-ups like Disneyland” and that Jews were responsible for the African slave trade.

The exchanges were captured on video and posted to Facebook.

One unidentified man in a grey shirt and green jacket went on a tirade for more than three minutes, during which he made a series of highly offensive, conspiracy-laden antisemitic comments. He described himself as a “Holocaust revisionist not a denier” and said that “nothing like six million died” during the Holocaust and that the figure was just an “interpretation.” He told the Jewish activists that the “gas chambers in Auschwitz were mock ups like Disneyland.” The International Definition of Antisemitism states that “Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust)” is antisemitic.

Another unidentified man in a pink shirt claimed that Jews were responsible for the slave trade that funded the “imperial wealth of Europe.” The accusation is antisemitic under the International Definition of Antisemitism which states that “charg[ing] Jews with conspiring to harm humanity” and “Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews” is antisemitic.

We commend Sussex Friends of Israel for exposing and challenging these unashamed antisemites and their repulsive views.

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Man sectioned under Mental Health Act after allegedly chasing Jewish pedestrians, shouting: “Allah, Allah, I’m going to kill you all”

A man has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act in Stamford Hill after allegedly chasing Jewish pedestrians, shouting: “Allah, Allah, I’m going to kill you all” as people fled before him. He was followed by Stamford Hill Shomrim, a Jewish neighbourhood watch patrol, until the Metropolitan Police Service arrived and sectioned him.

Michael Scher from Stamford Hill Shomrim said: “The man was shouting threats, with members of the public rushing away from him, fearing for their immediate safety. Thankfully police were able to detain him, and prevent further incident.”

This was an extremely alarming incident for Jewish pedestrians in the area innocently going about their business. We commend Stamford Hill Shomrim for once again rushing to defend the Jewish community.

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Manchester kosher restaurant gutted by arson attack after another kosher restaurant firebombed

JS Restaurant, the oldest kosher restaurant in Manchester has been gutted by fire following a suspected arson attack overnight at approximately 4:00.

Two days ago, Ta’am, another kosher restaurant in the city, was firebombed for the second time, and CCTV captured images of two youths conducting the attack. Last year the same restaurant was also set alight.

The fire at JS restaurant was brought under control after an hour and fifteen minutes by three fire engines, but the restaurant’s ground floor was completely wrecked. The firebomb attack against Ta’am was apparently unsuccessful.

Anybody with information on either attack should contact Greater Manchester Police on 101.

Jewish people and their property are increasingly being sought out by antisemites. It is imperative that perpetrators are brought to justice, and that police, prosecutors and the judiciary treat antisemitism with the utmost severity.

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Metropolitan Police operator grades ongoing attack on Jewish man as “low priority” because victim could not understand Arabic

A Jewish man has been left shaken after a Metropolitan Police Service operator graded an ongoing antisemitic attack as a “low priority” because he did not speak Arabic.

The man was running in Finsbury Park at approximately 6:00 this morning when another man described only as having “dark skin” allegedly started shouting at him aggressively in Arabic. The victim asked the man who had shouted what he was saying, to which he reportedly responded “I was saying ‘Good morning’ in Arabic.”

Shortly afterwards, as the Jewish man continued to run, he allegedly saw the same man running towards him, shouting wildly in Arabic. The Jewish man ran towards his car with aggressor in pursuit. He drove a short way up the road and called 999, asking that police come immediately as the suspect was still in the area.

According to Stamford Hill Shomrim, which is assisting the victim, he was told by the police operator that they were giving the incident a “low priority” grading because the victim could not understand Arabic and therefore could not confirm that the abuse was antisemitic in nature. The victim pointed out that he was recognisable as Jewish from his clothing, and that the suspect had not shouted at anybody else, but this was not good enough for the police operator.

The Jewish man waited in his car until he saw the suspect running towards him again, at which point he drove away.

Having spent years exercising in Finsbury Park, the victim no longer feels that it is safe to go there as he expects that he might come across the suspect again, and if he is attacked, he cannot rely on the Metropolitan Police Service to defend him.

This is the third recent report we have received of police officers not being deployed immediately to an ongoing antisemitic attack. Yesterday we learned the the Metropolitan Police Service had failed to send officers to the aid of a 16-year-old Jewish girl who was covered in blood by attackers whom she bravely stood up to, and Kent Police failed to deploy to assist a young Jewish family under attack from a gang of youths hurling stones.

We are increasingly alarmed by police failures to come to the defence of Jews during antisemitic attacks. This incident should have resulted in police officers attending within no more than eight minutes, and the failure of the Metropolitan Police Service to deploy immediately must be investigated thoroughly and transparently. Campaign Against Antisemitism will now be adding this complaint to our letter to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, requesting a full investigation of the decisions not to respond at all or immediately to these incidents.

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16-year-old Jewish girl beaten and left bleeding for two hours after Metropolitan Police Service fails to send officers

It has emerged that a 16-year-old Jewish girl was kicked and punched in the face during an antisemitic assault in Stoneyfields Park in Edgware, and was left bleeding in the care of an off-duty Royal Mail worker for two hours after the Metropolitan Police Service failed to send officers to her aid.

Alexander Goldberg, a barrister and police chaplain, wrote about the alleged incident on Facebook. According to his account of the incident, his daughter Hannah was sitting in the park with two friends during the Jewish sabbath on 27th May, when a group of five teenagers who had been playing on a basketball court decided to leave the court and play “in and around” the three Jewish girls, who were all wearing traditional long skirts. The teenagers then allegedly verbally abused the girls, culminating in one of them telling Hannah: “Hitler should have killed all you Jews when he had the chance…you should have all been gassed.” Remarkably, according to her father Hannah stood up to the teenagers, some of whom were black, and told them that the Nazis would have murdered them too, to which one of the teenagers answered that “Jews are the worst” and continued to swear at the girls.

Hannah asked her friends if they could leave, and as they left one of the teenagers allegedly threw a basketball in Hannah’s face, causing her nose to bleed. She asked them why he was doing this, but he allegedly responded by kicking her in the chest whilst another teenager punched her twice in the face.

The girls found an off-duty Royal Mail employee who twice called 999 whilst the girls waited, with Hannah covered in blood. After waiting for hours, during which some of the assailants remained in the area, the girls went home. The Metropolitan Police Service did not attend.

When contacted by Hannah’s father, the Metropolitan Police Service failed to investigate their decision not to deploy officers, however it agreed to open an investigation when he contacted Stamford Hill Shomrim, which interceded with the police.

We are appalled by the lack of a police response to a violent antisemitic assault on Jewish children. This incident should have resulted in police officers attending within no more than eight minutes, and the failure of the Metropolitan Police Service to deploy must be investigated thoroughly and transparently. Campaign Against Antisemitism is writing to the Commissioner.

It is the second recent example of police failing to attend an antisemitic attack after Kent Police declined to come to the aid of a young Jewish family which was attacked by a gang hurling stones at them.

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Terror suspect is accused of discussing plans to procure automatic weapons and kill Jews in Stamford Hill

Terror suspect Aweys Faqey, who was arrested at Stansted Airport on Tuesday last week, is accused of discussing plans to procure automatic weapons and kill Jews in Stamford Hill.

Mr Faqey, a Dutch national aged 37, was charged with preparing acts of terrorism and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this Tuesday. It is alleged that he obtained or applied for cash loans and bought tickets to fly to Turkey. Mr Faqey was arrested trying to board a flight to Istanbul, allegedly carrying four mobile phones and $700 and €400 in cash.

The court was told that Mr Faqey was interviewed for five days by police, but replied “No comment” to all questions. Prosecutor Thomas Halpin told the court: “The investigation came alive during the search of a laptop in another terrorist investigation and the communication between the defendant and Abdirahman Hassan transpired. He is a Kenyan man who is currently in custody in Kenya awaiting trial for terrorist offences. In essence, the communication between both men was that the defendant expressed a desire to go to Syria and fight jihad.”

Online chat logs were read out in court, with one message allegedly saying: “It could have been better if AK47, M16 and BKM can be found. They could have been taken to Stamford Hill and people leave from the game. On Saturday a lot of Jews gather over there. It is an area of the UK where they are a majority, it’s full of people.”

According to The Times, Mr Faqey has been living in Tottenham since 2013, was born in Somalia and has a wife and five children in the Netherlands and another wife and child in Kenya.

Mr Faqey was remanded in custody until his next court appearance at the Old Bailey on 9th June.

Stamford Hill Shomrim are in touch with the Metropolitan Police Service and have urged the local community to be vigilant and report anything suspicious.

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Kent Police arrests two teenagers following outcry over failure to assist young Jewish family attacked by stone-throwers

Kent Police has arrested two males aged 16 and 18 following an outcry over their failure to deploy officers when a young Jewish family enjoying the seaside at Minster beach on the Isle of Sheppey was allegedly attacked on Sunday by a gang of youths shouting “Jews” and hurling stones. The family called the police, but were told that officers would not be attending.

In a statement, Kent Police said: “The 18-year-old man and 16-year-old boy were arrested on 30th May on suspicion of committing a racially aggravated public order offence and have been released pending further enquiries.” The arrests were made using footage captured on a smartphone by a member of the family during the attack.

The family of two parents and their five children aged 8 to 15, had been playing on the beach when two boys and three girls aged 16 to 18 allegedly ran towards them, hurling stones. As the attack continued and the parents tried to shelter their children, the family called Kent Police, but the emergency operator advised them that no officers would be dispatched, despite the assailants remaining at the scene. Instead, they were told that an officer would contact them the following week to “investigate”.

The family cut short their holiday and returned home to London, where they received support from Stamford Hill Shomrim.

Stamford Hill Shomrim and Campaign Against Antisemitism then drew attention to the incident, sparking an outcry. Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Matthew Scott, released a statement criticising the police force and demanding a review. He said: “I am sorry and saddened that an alleged hate crime against a family visiting Minster-on-Sea took place on Sunday afternoon in our county, and that concerns have been raised about the way in which the matter has been handled by Kent Police. Part of my role as Police and Crime Commissioner is to hold Kent Police to account, so I have met with the Assistant Chief Constable and the Director of Corporate Services to discuss the case. Kent Police has already reviewed the case, met with the victim, and made two arrests. The investigation remains ongoing. I have asked for the reasons behind the decision not to attend to be investigated – under the police’s threat, harm and risk criteria – and for consideration to be given for the call handing to be independently reviewed.”

We welcome the intervention of the Police and Crime Commissioner. The failure of Kent Police to attend the scene of an active antisemitic attack is appalling and must be investigated thoroughly. Normally, police officers should be deployed to an ongoing incident or an incident where suspects remain on the scene. After years of police failing to charge antisemites, and the Crown Prosecution Service failing to charge them, this news of a police force refusing to come to the aid of a young Jewish family under attack is extremely alarming. We are pleased that Kent Police are now working hard to identify additional suspects, though it should never have been necessary for them to be pressured to do so.

We are following the case with interest. Anyone with information about the incident can call Kent Police on 01795 419 119, quoting reference 28-0929.

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Abderahman Forjani, a cousin of the Manchester terrorist, reportedly tweeted “If only Hitler was still alive — these Jews would be burned in gas chambers”

Abderahman Forjani, a cousin of the Manchester terrorist, Salman Abedi, reportedly posted an antisemitic tweet appearing to celebrate the Holocaust.

The Times uncovered a tweet allegedly posted by Forjani stating that “If only Hitler was still alive — these Jews would be burned in gas chambers.” His account has since been deleted. Forjani, 21, was reportedly arrested after the suicide bombing at the Manchester Arena that killed 22 people and injured around 120.

Antisemitism is often the gateway to extremism and those who espouse it must be held to account.

Following the terrorist attack, social media erupted in condemnation of the attack as a Jewish conspiracy, and two Muslim leaders from Manchester who were presented as voices of coexistence following the attack were revealed to have sent antisemitic tweets.

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Passenger allegedly stands up and yells “Get out of the way you Jewish s***” on a Golders Green bus

At approximately 20:20 yesterday, on the 240 bus travelling through Golders Green, a passenger allegedly stood up and yelled “Get out of the way you Jewish s***” at a car.

The bus driver had hooted at a car on busy Golders Green Road, at which the male passenger seated in the front row on the top deck, allegedly stood up, gestured at the car, pointed his finger and shouted the antisemitic comment. There were estimated to be about three other passengers on the top deck of the bus and a further eight or nine on the bottom, all within earshot.

A shocked Jewish passenger, seated a few rows behind, told Campaign Against Antisemitism that he confronted the man, saying: “Excuse me, you didn’t have to say Jewish.” The man simply responded: “But it’s happened to me before”. The Jewish passenger repeated “You didn’t have to say Jewish.” The man turned around and kept quiet. When the Jewish passenger was exiting the bus, however, the man allegedly mumbled to him in what appeared to be an Eastern European language, presumably as he did not want to be understood.

The route 240 bus which travels from Edgware to Golders Green via Mill Hill and Hendon is frequently used by the large Jewish community in the area, including young families, school children and the elderly.

The Jewish passenger has declined to report the matter to the police.

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Kent Police refuses to deploy officers to help young Jewish family under attack by teenagers hurling stones

A Jewish family enjoying the seaside in Kent was allegedly attacked earlier today by a gang of youths shouting “Jews” and hurling stones. The family called the police, but were told that officers would not be attending.

The family of two parents and their five children aged 8 to 15, were playing on the beach when two boys and three girls aged 16 to 18 allegedly ran towards them, hurling stones. As the attack continued and the parents tried to shelter their children, the family called Kent Police, but the emergency operator advised them that no officers would be dispatched, despite the assailants remaining at the scene. Instead, they were told that an officer would contact them the following week to “investigate”.

The family has cut short their holiday and returned home to London, where they are receiving support from Stamford Hill Shomrim.

The failure of Kent Police to attend the scene of an active antisemitic attack is appalling and must be investigated thoroughly. Normally, police officers should be deployed to an ongoing incident or an incident where suspects remain on the scene.

We will be contacting Kent Police to make representations. After years of police failing to charge antisemites, and the Crown Prosecution Service failing to charge them, this news of a police force refusing to come to the aid of a young Jewish family under attack is extremely alarming.

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Two Muslim leaders from Manchester presented as voices of coexistence following terrorist attack alleged to have sent antisemitic tweets

In recent days, as Manchester reels from the atrocity inflicted at the Manchester Arena, Fawzi Haffar and Dr Siema Iqbal have been presented as local Muslim leaders in Manchester who speak out firmly against extremism, but according to a collection of tweets brought to light by Manchester-based North West Friends of Israel, both Mr Haffar and Dr Iqbal eschew their moderate messages when it comes to Jews.

Mr Haffar is a trustee of Manchester Islamic Centre, known as Didsbury Mosque, where the terrorist who committed the atrocity in Manchester on Monday night is said to have been a worshipper. Mr Haffar told the media in a widely-broadcast public commemoration of the victims of the attack that the centre caters to people of “all backgrounds and faiths, from our food and clothes banks, to all our inter-faith dialogues”.

Sadly, Mr Haffar’s tweets convey a very different message when it comes to Jews. In one tweet from 2014, he told another Twitter user (who has been suspended): “You are so ignorant!!! Your time will come and if you are a #Zionist then I know you will be gone”. Minutes later he tweeted: “You killed our #prophet Jesus and pretend you are our friends, you #ZioNazi are baaaaaaaad”. Screenshots provided by North West Friends of Israel showed further antisemitic tweets which appear to have been posted by Mr Haffar. Under the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g. claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterise Israel or Israelis” is antisemitic, as is “Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis”.

Dr Iqbal is a GP who has written for The Guardian and The Huffington Post. In 2015, she presented herself as a voice of mainstream British Muslims whilst attacking then Prime Minister David Cameron’s counter-extremism policy in The Guardian, writing: “For the first time in my life I feel like I don’t belong. British Muslim communities have so many worries about your plans to tackle extremism, so why don’t you communicate with us?” In a more recent article in the Middle East Eye blog, she harangued Theresa May: “This isolation is the real driving force behind radicalisation and, until these issues are addressed, I feel you will continue to fuel radicalisation and the so-called ‘war on terror’ will never be won.” In an interview for Channel 4 following the terrorist attack in Manchester, she said that: “We grieve together and we will rebuild Manchester together.”

Unfortunately Dr Iqbal appears to have unsavoury views about Jews. Screenshots provided by North West Friends of Israel seemed to show her retweeting an antisemitic Twitter account called “Bob Kostic” in August 2014. In reference to the conflict between Hamas terrorists and Israel, the tweet allegedly said: “Truce in Gaza? Don’t you believe it! The Jews are shopping around for cheaper bombs. #FreePalestine”. According to North West Friends of Israel, she also tweeted the very same image calling for Israelis to be transported to the United States that resulted in the disgrace and suspension of Naz Shah MP from the Labour Party. At the time, she was one of the leaders of protests against a shop selling Israeli products where protesters were arrested on suspicion of hate crimes on more than one occasion, with Greater Manchester Police even having to invoke powers under section 14 of the Public Order Act 1986 to place limitations on the protest. By law, section 14 can only be used when there is a likelihood of “intimidation” or “serious public disorder, serious damage to property or serious disruption to the life of the community”.

It is vitally important that communities stand together in the aftermath of barbaric acts of terrorism, but we must also ensure that imposters are not mistaken for voices of peace and given a platform. If true, these allegations show that Mr Haffar and Dr Iqbal are not moderate in the slightest when it comes to Jews, and they could not be worse ambassadors for coexistence. Antisemitism is often the gateway to extremism and those who espouse it must be ostracised, not presented as voices of peace.

Since the attack, social media has been rife with conspiracy myths alleging that a Jewish plot was responsible for the atrocity.

Mr Haffar and Dr Iqbal have not yet responded to Campaign Against Antisemitism.

https://twitter.com/fawzihaffar/status/493821562328715264

https://twitter.com/fawzihaffar/status/493820668400898048

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Police looking for man who shouted “I want to rape the little Jewish girls” at dead of night in Golders Green

The Metropolitan Police Service is trying to trace a man who stepped out of a car in Golders Green at 23:51 on 16th May, urinated against a wall and shouted antisemitic abuse culminating in: “I want to rape the little Jewish girls”. The man and two other males then drove away. Part of the incident was captured by a resident on his smartphone, and the evidence was passed to Shomrim North West London, a Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol. Working with Shomrim, Campaign Against Antisemitism was able to enhance images of the vehicle licence plate.

If you can identify the man or if you witnessed this incident please contact the police on 101 or Shomrim North West London on 0300 999 1234.

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Jewish 14-year-old allegedly asked by gang of four whether he is Jewish, then robbed, four teenagers in custody

Just before 10:30 this morning, a 14-year-old Jewish boy walking along the towpath of the River Lea in Hackney was approached by a gang of four teenagers of Asian or Middle Eastern appearance who asked him: “Are you Jewish?”. When he replied in the affirmative, the teenagers allegedly grabbed him, searched his pockets and stole his wallet. Stamford Hill Shomrim, a Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, deployed immediately and were able to gain sight of the suspects. The Shomrim volunteers radioed their control room which relayed information to the Metropolitan Police Service until officers arrived at the scene. A chase ensued during which one of the suspects allegedly sought to flee by jumping into the river, but together, Shomrim volunteers and police officers were able to apprehend all four suspects who have now been arrested.

Meir Taub from Stamford Hill Shomrim said “This victim was left extremely shaken and crying after this incident, Shomrim stayed with him until the police arrived and we are continuing to support him. I want to thank Hackney Police for their major response which enabled all the suspects to be apprehended.”

These disgusting attacks on Jewish schoolchildren by teenage criminals must be met with the full force of the law. We commend the volunteers of Stamford Hill Shomrim and police officers who responded so quickly. Questions must be asked as to why teenagers are targeting Jewish children in the first place. Children are the future of our society, and these horrifying acts must be brought to an end.

This incident comes on the heels of an incident yesterday in which an autistic Jewish schoolgirl was pelted with eggs by youths outside her specialist Jewish school. The youths were able to escape on bicycles.

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Police investigating as graffiti demanding death to Jews found near primary school in Suffolk

A star of David with the word “die” underneath it and a swastika were reportedly painted on a derelict building on Park Road near a primary school in the coastal town of Aldeburgh in Suffolk.

Local resident, Annie Pilkington-Bernier, who saw the antisemitic graffiti, has reported it as a hate crime to Suffolk Constabulary, which is investigating. She told the East Anglian Daily Times: “As I was walking down the path I could see something and thought to myself, I’m sure that says ‘die’. As I got nearer, to my horror, I saw the whole thing.” Her neighbour, John Lucas, added: “What’s so very shocking about this, apart from the fact that it’s an awful piece of graffiti to have in our town, is that children from the primary school have to walk past it.”

Suffolk Coastal District Council has also been contacted to remove the graffiti. A council spokesman said that “Our initial enquiries indicate this has occurred on private property, so we are currently trying to establish who is the owner of the derelict building to arrange for it to be removed as quickly as possible.”

Anyone with information can call the police on 101, quoting CAD 109 of 16th May 2017. If any assistance is required, our Crime Unit can be contacted via [email protected].

We are following the case with interest.

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Autistic Jewish schoolgirl left traumatised after being pelted with eggs outside specialist Jewish school

Police are investigating after a 13-year-old Jewish schoolgirl was pelted with eggs outside a Jewish school in Bakers Hill, London, which provides education for children with special needs. The girl, who is autistic, was left completely traumatised.

CCTV showed youths on bicycles apparently loitering in wait, throwing the egg, and then cycling away before anybody could intervene. The girl immediately ran into the school.

Whilst the youths did not shout any antisemitic slurs, Stamford Hill Shomrim, a Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, has reported numerous incidents in which Jews were pelted with eggs, and the youths appeared to be targeting the Jewish school.

Anybody with information should contact the police on 101, or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123.

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London synagogue’s window smashed, youths seen fleeing scene

A synagogue’s window has been smashed in an attack in North London. A group of youths was seen fleeing the scene.

Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, has deployed to secure the building.

Earlier, a man armed with a meat cleaver and a large knife was arrested after allegedly threatening Jews on Upper Clapton Road in North London. The man is said to have tried to enter a kosher food shop but staff locked the door. He then allegedly entered another kosher shop brandishing his knives and shouting: “Where is the boss, I will kill him!” When told that the owner was not there, the man, who is described as white, allegedly ran out of the shop towards two Jewish girls aged 8 and 14, shouting “You Jews run away from here before I kill you.”

Violent antisemitic crime continues to rise at an alarming rate and will continue to do so until antisemitic incitement is taken seriously by the authorities before it translates into violence. It is inexcusable that in Britain in 2017, Campaign Against Antisemitism has had to take the Crown Prosecution Service to the High Court and undertake private prosecutions itself because the authorities have failed to act.

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Man with meat cleaver and large knife arrested in London after allegedly threatening Jewish girls, trying to force entry to kosher shops

A man armed with a meat cleaver and a large knife has been arrested after allegedly threatening Jews on Upper Clapton Road in North London.

The man is said to have tried to enter a kosher food shop but staff locked the door. He then allegedly entered another kosher shop brandishing his knives and shouting: “Where is the boss, I will kill him!” When told that the owner was not there, the man, who is described as white, allegedly ran out of the shop towards two Jewish girls aged 8 and 14, shouting “You Jews run away from here before I kill you.”

Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, received multiple calls to their emergency lines and deployed immediately. Witnesses allegedly saw the man enter a block of flats on Rossington Street to which Shomrim volunteers followed him and cordoned off the area, whilst another Shomrim team retrieved CCTV from the shop the man had allegedly entered. Shomrim passed their information to the Metropolitan Police Service. Armed police immediately entered the block of flats and arrested a 61-year-old man on suspicion of affray and possession of an offensive weapon. He was taken to a north London police station where he remains in custody.

This is an extremely frightening incident and it is very fortunate that there are no injuries reported. We commend Stamford Hill Shomrim and the Metropolitan Police Service for their bravery in rushing to the scene to protect the public. Violent antisemitic crime continues to rise at an alarming rate and will continue to do so until antisemitic incitement is taken seriously by the authorities before it translates into violence. It is inexcusable that in Britain in 2017, Campaign Against Antisemitism has had to take the Crown Prosecution Service to the High Court and undertake private prosecutions itself because the authorities have failed to act.

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Police seek witnesses after Jewish boys aged 12 and 14 assaulted by “group of teenagers” in local park

Police are looking for witnesses after two boys, aged 12 and 14, were reportedly assaulted in Aberford Park, Borehamwood on Sunday.

The boys’ father, Rabbi Alex Chapper, told the JC how his two sons “met a friend and went to the local park in Borehamwood, very near our house. Whilst in the park, they were surrounded by a group of teenagers around the same age who were calling out abusive antisemitic words to them, for example ‘f***ing Jews.’ They tried to extract themselves from the situation but were followed and surrounded. Fortunately there was a member of the community there [in the park] who called the police.”

A spokesperson for Hertfordshire police said that “Officers are investigating a racially aggravated incident that occurred in Aberford Park, Borehamwood, on Sunday, 7th May. A 14-year-old boy’s skullcap was knocked off his head and he was kicked in his leg. During the incident racially aggravated comments were also made to a 12-year-old boy.”

Rabbi Chapper, who only took up his position as the new Rabbi of Borehamwood and Elstree Synagogue after Pesach, said that his sons had been left “very shaken” by the incident. He added that his family was subject to antisemitic abuse before: “Actually the first week we were here we were walking home on a Friday evening, and there were teenagers shouting abuse at us as well. We ignored that, but this sort of the thing, with children in the park, it’s just not acceptable.”

Anyone with information should contact Hertfordshire Constabulary by calling 101 and quoting crime reference J1/17/1946. If any assistance is required, our Crime Unit can be contacted via [email protected].

We are following the case with interest.

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Latest far-right conference in London exposed, with addresses by David Irving, Jeremy Bedford-Turner and Alison Chabloz

An undercover investigation by The Independent has revealed disturbing details of a recent secret meeting of the antisemitic, far-right London Forum. David Irving, the notorious Holocaust denier, was a keynote speaker at the event attended by “a receptive crowd of around 100.” Irving, whose self-published books were on sale, gave a “rambling speech” met “with a standing ovation” in which he described Auschwitz as “small beer” and now “like Disneyland”, concluding: “I am still standing, the fight goes on, and I will continue writing true history as I find it to be true.”

The paper disclosed that the gathering was compèred by London Forum chief and a neo-Nazi leader, Jeremy Bedford-Turner. In March, a landmark High Court judicial review action brought by Campaign Against Antisemitism forced the Crown Prosecution Service to cancel its decision not to prosecute Bedford-Turner over an antisemitic speech to neo-Nazis in July 2015. It is now reconsidering its decision.

Alison Chabloz is also reported to have performed. Chabloz is awaiting trial for allegedly posting a video to YouTube in which she sang “(((Survivors)))”, a song which allegedly mocks Holocaust survivors and claims that they are liars. The prosecution of Chabloz began as Campaign Against Antisemitism’s first private prosecution, after the authorities failed to act. According to The Independent, “When she suggested the judge hearing her case had Jewish ties, using the euphemistic term ‘one of our friends’, one audience member called out: ‘Could you tell by the size of his nose?’ Another shouted ‘there’s no business like Shoah business’, using the Hebrew word for the Holocaust.” To end her appearance she reportedly performed a parody of Edith Piaf’s “Je ne regrette rien”, and allegedly said she was ready to be sent to jail for her beliefs before performing an antisemitic quenelle salute to applause.

Other speakers at this alarming event at the Swedish Seamen’s Church in Rotherhithe included Vincent Reynouard, a Frenchman who has been imprisoned for Holocaust denial, and David Shayler, an MI5 agent turned 9/11 truther who has claimed he is the Messiah. Reynouard reportedly urged attendees “to block the construction of a planned Holocaust memorial in Westminster.”

In February, Campaign Against Antisemitism exposed the disgraceful neutrality of the InterContinental Hotels Group towards hosting similar neo-Nazi events.

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Michael Demetriou, convicted of shouting “Heil Hitler” and “F***ing Jews”, ordered to pay £640, but then discharged

Michael Demetriou has been convicted of racially aggravated harassment, alarm and distress for shouting “Heil Hitler” and “F***ing Jews” at Jewish victims in London in an incident in August last year.

He was ordered to pay £640 in costs, and discharged on condition that he commits no further offences for six months.

Antisemitic crime will continue to increase unless offenders are appropriately sanctioned by the courts, and we regret this lenient decision.

We commend the victim for persevering with the Metropolitan Police Service and insisting that they level charges against the suspect, and we salute Shomrim Stamford Hill, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, which has assisted the victim throughout.

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After releasing a disappointing policing plan, Mayor of London makes a start on hate crime policing group called for by CAA

Having released a disappointing policing plan, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has launched the beginnings of a hate crime policing group recommended by Campaign Against Antisemitism.

The Metropolitan Police Service does not currently have a dedicated force-wide hate crime team, but Sadiq Khan today announced an online hate crime unit staffed by five officers who will gather intelligence on online abusers on social media as well as improving support for victims. The unit is reported to cost £1.7m over two years, and will be partly funded by the Home Office.

We welcome this initiative which is consistent with the proposals we have made to the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime. We hope that the unit will receive additional staff so that it can cope with the constant flow of online crime, and the volunteers of our Crime Unit look forward to working with the new police team.

Antisemitic hatred has gone unchecked online for too long. Jews should not have to suffer in silence, and we hope to see an increase in prosecutions for online hate crime.

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Graffiti near Brighton declares: “Put Jews in ovens”, “Auschwitz was a good thing!”

Horrifying antisemitic graffiti has been found on the beachfront at Rottingdean, near Brighton.

The graffiti consists of neo-Nazi slogans including: “Put Jews in ovens”, “Auschwitz was a good thing!”, “Burn the Jews”, “F*** Jews” and “Hail Hitler”.

Simon Cobbs, a leader of Sussex Friends of Israel, said: “Once again the spectre of antisemitism rears its ugly head on the south coast in a random location. One has to question the environment that allows and encourages such unalloyed hatred to be so openly expressed.”

The graffiti was found near a sports area named after Connor Saunders, who died in Rottingdean in April 2012 after being punched by a teenager in a pointless act of violence. The sports area is intended to offer young people a better alternative to loitering with nothing to do.

Anybody with information about the graffiti should contact the police on 101.

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Police investigating swastika painted on equipment at Burgess Hill Skatepark in West Sussex

Antisemitic, homophobic and sexually-explicit graffiti, including a swastika, has reportedly been painted on equipment at Burgess Hill Skatepark in St John’s Park, London Road in West Sussex. A spokesman for Sussex Police told The Mid Sussex Times: “House-to-house enquiries and foot patrols are being used to gain information about those responsible for what amounts to racially-aggravated criminal damage due to the content of the graffiti.”

The graffiti was discovered on 3rd April but the vandals were believed to have struck over the weekend. Burgess Hill Town Council said four people from its maintenance team removed the graffiti “as quickly as possible” at a cost of around £300. A spokesman for the Council said: “Graffiti comes and goes but this was particularly nasty with racial slurs and foul language making up the bulk of the painting.”

Anyone with any information is asked to e-mail [email protected], quoting reference 993 of 03/04. Reports can also be made on Sussex Police’s website.

Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomes the speedy and thorough response from Sussex Police and Burgess Hill Town Council.

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Jews pelted with eggs outside synagogue in Golders Green, Shomrim releases CCTV

Jewish worshippers performing the Kiddush Levanah ceremony outside a synagogue in Golders Green were pelted with eggs by the occupants of a passing Toyota Prius on Tuesday at approximately 23:40.

Shomrim North West London has released CCTV footage of the car and asked any witnesses to call the police on 101, or Shomrim on 0300 999 1234.

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Man who allegedly spat on Jews and performed Nazi salute arrested following pursuit by Shomrim

A man has been arrested and held in custody by police for allegedly shouting antisemitic abuse at Jewish pedestrians, spitting at them and performing a Nazi salute. The 26-year-old was followed by Shomrim North West London, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, which pursued him until police arrived to arrest him on suspicion of racially-aggravated assault.

The incident occurred at approximately 22:05 on Sunday outside 134 Golders Green Road. Any witnesses should contact the police on 101 or Shomrim North West London on 0300 999 1234.

The abuse of Jews with the language and symbols of Nazi Germany is intended to maximise the distress caused to the victims. It is a form of antisemitism expressly designed to arouse fear, and must be treated severely by the criminal justice system if others are to be deterred from employing it.

We commend Shomrim North West London and the Metropolitan Police Service for their swift response. We will follow this case with interest.

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Rising star of Scottish neo-Nazi movement unmasked

The Scottish newspaper, the Daily Record, has revealed in its Sunday edition, the Sunday Mail, the identity of a rising leader of the Scottish neo-Nazi movement.

The paper’s investigation discovered that Steven Wright, 45, is a sympathiser of the violent, antisemitic and neo-Nazi group National Action and openly backs other far right groups, including the British Freedom Fighters, the White Brotherhood, and Blood and Honour. Last month, it emerged that National Action is still meeting in secret despite being banned by the Home Secretary in December 2016 following a long campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others.

Wright has been identified as a participant in the recent White Pride march in Edinburgh. Nazi salutes were performed at the march in which up to 40 far-right activists were challenged by approximately 400 counter-protesters. The investigation also names Gary Morrison, who admitted to being a follower of Hitler, as one of two men who allegedly performed Nazi salutes.

Wright was spotted wearing a British Freedom Fighters t-shirt at a Scottish Defence League (SDL) demonstration in Kilmarnock in 2010. In March this year, he appeared at an SDL rally in his home town of Alloa. He regularly wears a scarf emblazoned with Hitler’s notorious SS unit’s Death’s Head insignia. Wright’s fascist connections appear to spread as far as mainland Europe where he was pictured carrying a Scottish flag in Budapest during a far-right demonstration in 2015.

Campaign Against Antisemitism trusts that Scottish authorities will take swift action following this extensive and chilling exposé by the Daily Record. We continue to take a close interest in developments in Scotland.

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Daren Thomas convicted with help from CAA over campaign of antisemitic threats to murder

Daren Thomas, of Westcliff-on-Sea, has been convicted of religiously-aggravated harassment for a campaign of abuse in which he threatened his Jewish landlord, his wife and his children.

Thomas had allegedly failed to pay towards the maintenance of the house in which he had a flat, or to allow access, leading the building to become dilapidated. When his Jewish landlord tried to ensure that repairs were made, Thomas bombarded him with antisemitic threats.

The threats, made between July and August last year, included one message which said: “I’ve never been prejudice against anything [victim’s name]. Maybe Hitler felt the same at first, and maybe the actions of the Jewish aristocracy in Vienna in the thirties acted like you. Maybe those actions changed Hitler’ opinion” whilst another menacingly read: “Have you seen inglorious barstard’ [victim’s name]? The swastika on the forehead is a nice touch! Nazi jew boy!” Despite the victim remaining completely professional in the exchanges, Thomas repeatedly sent him retorts such as: “I plan a nostalgic trip! Everything taken, packed off to camp!” He also made explicit threats multiple times, warning: “You won’t make it back to your car hidden in the car park. Are we crystal?” Thomas also made multiple mentions of the victim’s family, including: “I’m going to find your home retard. I know your married, and God, I hope you have kids!! I want them to see you on your f***ing knees!”

In a court order, it was found that Thomas “sent the victim numerous e-mails of an offensive nature displaying statements relating to Nazis and Jews which the victim has taken as racially offensive, and displayed a written sign from your premises window for the victim to see, threatening to burn him, this ammounting to a course of conduct and causing the victim to feel harassed, alarmed and distressed, and the offence was religiously aggravated.”

Thomas was handed a 16-week custodial sentence suspended for 12 months conditional on his undertaking a behavioural training course. A restraining order was also put in place directing that he should not attempt to make contact with the victim in any form whatsoever and he was also ordered to pay a £300 victim surcharge.

The victim approached Campaign Against Antisemitism for assistance and our Crime Unit provided specialist advice. The victim told us: “This is clearly a very good result and would not have been possible without the guidance you provided through the process and your support in preparing the evidence.” We strongly commend the victim for standing up to these antisemitic threats by resolutely pursuing justice. However we are disappointed that the court has not imposed a sentence that better reflects the persistence with which Thomas repeatedly made the most severe antisemitic threats possible.

If you or someone you know would like help dealing with the authorities over an antisemitic incident, please e-mail [email protected]. If you would like to join or support our volunteer team, please consider volunteering or donating.

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“Scum Nazis” scrawled across Belfast memorial for commander of the Jewish Legion during First World War

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is investigating a graffiti attack on the memorial to the former commander of the so-called Jewish Legion as a hate crime.

“Scum Nazis” was scrawled across the memorial to Lt Col John Henry Patterson DSO who commanded the so-called Jewish Legion during the First World War, which was the first Jewish fighting force in nearly two millennia. Whilst his men fought with distinction, Lt Col Patterson, who was not Jewish, had to defend them from the antisemitism of his superiors, peers and subordinates, even threatening to resign his commission on multiple occasions in protest at the treatment of his soldiers. Lt Col Patterson sacrificed any hope of a successful military career in order to stand by his Jewish soldiers and ensure that they were treated fairly.

In accordance with his dying wish, Lt Col Patterson was reburied in Israel in 2014 in order to be close to the soldiers who fell under his command.

The memorial had only recently been restored following an attempt to set it alight.

The incident has been condemned by politicians from the Democratic Unionist Party as well as clergymen. Inspector Murphy from the Police Service of Northern Ireland said in a statement: “The incident is being treated as a hate crime. Police would like to hear from anyone with information, or anyone who was in the area and noticed anything or anyone suspicious. Please call 101 quoting reference 299 17/03/17 or call Crimestoppers and speak with them anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

This cowardly attack on a memorial to one of Northern Ireland’s heroes must be punished with the full force of the law.

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‘Beware of the Jews’ sign found near synagogue by Stamford Hill Shomrim

Update: An artist has now stepped forward and admitted that the sign was an ill-conceived piece of ‘street art’.

A ‘beware of the Jews’ sign has been found by Stamford Hill Shomrim. Attached to a lamppost, the sign mimics an official road sign indicating a hazard, but instead of warning of schoolchildren or a skid hazard, the sign warns of charedi Jews.

Shomrim has reported the sign to the Metropolitan Police Service and the local council.

Barry Bard, Supervisor at Stamford Hill Shomrim, said: “The sign has caused a lot of concern amongst local Jewish residents, especially as it is in such close proximity to a synagogue.”

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Non-Jewish couple subjected to antisemitic tirade at London gastropub

A man and a woman enjoying afternoon tea at a gastropub in Belsize Park have reported that they were subjected to antisemitic abuse, causing them to leave. On Wednesday the couple were engaged in conversation when they were approached by a man who asked them if they were talking about “them”. When the couple asked to whom he was referring, his response was “the Jews”. He then embarked upon a tirade of antisemitic abuse invoking classical antisemitic tropes, allegedly including: “Jewish business is taking every penny.”

The couple who are not Jewish left the establishment in disgust. The matter has been reported to the police and the venue. Campaign Against Antisemitism is assisting the couple.

The alleged incident reportedly occurred at the Sir Richard Steele pub in Belsize Park, London, at approximately 16:00 on Wednesday 8th March. Anybody with information should call 101, using reference number CAD6542/08/03/2017.

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Cambridge neo-Nazi sentenced to four years in prison for antisemitic incitement online

A man has been sentenced to four years in prison by a judge at Peterborough Crown Court after being convicted of two counts of incitement to racial hatred over his antisemitic Facebook posts and a speech on YouTube at Cambridge Crown Court last year.

In December 2016, Lawrence Burns was found guilty of two charges of publishing threatening, abusive or insulting written material with intent or likely intent to stir up racial hatred by a jury at Cambridge Crown Court.

Jurors found him guilty after hearing how Burns, aged 26 from Coldham’s Lane in Cambridge, spoke in a YouTube video memorialising American white supremacist leader David Lane, accusing Jews of being “parasites” that wanted to create a “mongrelised race”.

Burns pleaded not guilty, but prosecutor Mark Weekes said: “This is a young man who is an extremist and has expressed racist views, particularly towards the Jewish and Afro-Caribbean community. On his public Facebook account, which has more than 90 friends, he expressed some of the vilest and most offensive sentiments possible. Many of the posts are abusive and insulting towards Jews, who he refers to as ‘sub human animals’.” In one post, Burns compared Jews to “maggots in a decaying body” who are “hijacking the genes of a superior white race”.

Adrian Davis, who was defending Burns said he was a “rash young man” who had never intended his words to be read by a wide audience.

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After 13-month legal battle, CAA wins landmark High Court case against Director of Public Prosecutions over non-prosecution of neo-Nazi

In a landmark High Court judicial review action brought by Campaign Against Antisemitism, the Crown Prosecution Service has been forced to cancel its decision not to prosecute a neo-Nazi leader, Jeremy Bedford-Turner. The CPS had repeatedly refused to prosecute him.

After capitulating to CAA unequivocally after an extended legal battle, just days before a High Court hearing, the CPS must now ask a senior lawyer to reconsider whether to prosecute.

In a speech to neo-Nazis surrounded by police in July 2015, Bedford-Turner said that: “…all politicians are nothing but a bunch of puppets dancing to a Jewish tune, and the ruling regimes in the West for the last one hundred years have danced to the same tune.” Evoking medieval libels which claimed that Jews drank the blood of non-Jewish children, Bedford-Turner told his followers, of whom one third were from the violent extreme-right National Rebirth of Poland group, that the French Revolution and both World Wars were massacres perpetrated by Jews. He concluded that England was “merry” during the period of the expulsion of Jews from England and demanded: “Let’s free England from Jewish control.” The speech was filmed and posted on YouTube, where it remains.

The speech was made in a kettling pen in Westminster. The neo-Nazis had sought to march through Golders Green but were prevented from doing so by police due to a large counterdemonstration mobilised by CAA.

The CPS took over five months to decide not to prosecute the case, deciding that there was no realistic prospect of a jury finding that Bedford-Turner’s speech amounted to incitement to racial or religious hatred (using threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour with the intention (or likely consequence) of stirring up racial or religious hatred). CAA’s Chairman, Gideon Falter, who had witnessed the speech, applied for Victims’ Right to Review, but was told by the CPS that he was not a victim and had no victim’s rights.

Faced with no alternative, CAA took the unusual step of issuing judicial review proceedings to submit the CPS decision to the scrutiny of the High Court.

CAA was partly motivated by a growing concern that the CPS is failing to take antisemitic crime seriously. 2015, the year in which the crime was committed, was the worst year on record for antisemitic hate crime. Yet of 15,442 prosecutions of hate crimes by the CPS, only 12 were prosecutions of antisemitic hate crime.

Whilst waiting for the High Court to decide whether to allow CAA to proceed, the case was brought to the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Chief Executive of the CPS who remained intransigent.

On 6th January 2017, the Hon. Mr Justice Haddon-Cave gave CAA’s judicial review permission to proceed on all grounds and limited CAA’s cost liability to zero. He held that this case “raises potentially important issues for society in this growing area of racist and religious hate crime.” The case was expedited to be held before a Divisional Court of the Administrative Division of the High Court today, Wednesday 8th March.

On the eve of the hearing, after more than a year of maintaining that her decision was correct, the Director of Public Prosecutions agreed that the decision should be quashed and taken again by a more senior lawyer.

The Director of Public Prosecutions’ capitulation comes as a representative survey of 1,864 British Jews found extremely low confidence in the CPS and the authorities. CAA’s 2016 Antisemitism Barometer research has not yet been published, however CAA has released the results from the research pertaining to confidence in the CPS:

  • Only 26% of British Jews think the CPS does enough to protect British Jews.
  • Only 23% of British Jews think that the authorities are doing enough to address and punish antisemitism.
  • Only 46% of British Jews have confidence that if they reported a hate crime, it would be prosecuted if there was enough evidence.

Gideon Falter, Chairman of CAA said: “We are delighted by this result, but for more than a year it has been clear that the DPP could not win. It is a disgrace that we have had to litigate for the DPP to reconsider the absurd decision not to prosecute this brazen neo-Nazi. The question now is why the CPS seems to demonstrate such incompetence in dealing with cases of antisemitism. Despite record levels of antisemitic crime, there are dismally few prosecutions of antisemites in Britain every year. Antisemites are becoming bolder and British Jews are losing faith in the authorities. The CPS must stop making excuses and prosecute antisemites with zero tolerance. If they do not, we will continue to hold them to account in court.”

Brian Kennelly QC, leading counsel in the judicial review, said: “The CPS has acknowledged that in future it must apply Article 17 of the European Human Rights Convention in cases of antisemitic hate speech. This provides that the right to free speech does not extend to those who would destroy that right.”

Jamie Susskind, junior counsel in the judicial review, said: “I hope that this case will mark a watershed in how the CPS chooses to prosecute cases of hardcore antisemitism. The CPS lawyers appeared to believe that a neo-Nazi’s right to free speech enabled him to say almost anything — no matter how grotesque, threatening, or hateful. This stance was wrong as a matter of law — none of us has an unqualified right to say things that aim to destroy the rights of others (in this case, the Jews). The CPS’s misunderstanding of the law may explain why so few antisemitic hate crimes have been prosecuted in the recent past. Following this decision, this needs to change — so that neo-Nazis and others are held to account for their crimes and the Jewish community can feel safe.”

CAA was represented pro bono by leading counsel Brian Kennelly QC, junior counsel Jamie Susskind, and solicitor David Sonn. The entire CAA team would like to thank our lawyers for the hundreds of hours that they have donated to this case. It would have been impossible for us to pursue this without their generosity. It is due to their devotion and skill that we have achieved this result.

We now await the CPS’s new decision on whether to prosecute Jeremy Bedford-Turner. Later this month, CAA will be in court again, privately prosecuting Alison Chabloz.

Your donations help us continue to hold the authorities to account and enforce the law.
Please support CAA today by donating online. If you would like to make a major donation to help fund our litigation work, or know someone who would, please e-mail [email protected].

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Emergency services simulate antisemitic terrorist attack in the heart of Jewish London

Such is the threat of antisemitism that authorities are taking extraordinary precautions. To prepare for the worst, the Metropolitan Police Service training campus in Aerodrome Road, Hendon, hosted a training exercise on 27th February to simulate an antisemitic terrorist attack. North West London Shomrim, a Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, were actively involved in the exercise along with Hatzola, CST, the police, fire brigade and ambulance service.

“If there were ever to be an antisemitic terrorist attack in the UK, chances are incredibly high it would happen in Barnet,” Borough Commander Detective Chief Superintendent Simon Rose told the Hendon Times. He added: “Hopefully this would never happen — but we need to make sure we are ready in case it does.”

To simulate a terrorist incident in the heart of London’s Jewish community, a large lorry was driven at speed down a mock street, smashing into cars and pedestrians. Emergency services were left to deal with actors with life-threatening injuries and were told that due to leaking petrol they should follow procedures for an incident with a risk of an explosion. The mock terrorist, was still behind the wheel of the lorry, and had to be contained but also treated for his injuries. Assisted by Shomrim and CST, the police took control of the scene whilst London Ambulance Service and the London Fire Brigade treated victoms, assisted by Hatzola.

DCSI Rose concluded: “We need to be ready for this so we aren’t caught short if it ever happens. While I can’t say our performance was perfect today, there will be an extensive debrief to work through what can be improved. This has been a valuable day for everyone and I’m proud of all those involved for their contribution to making our community safer.”

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Swastika found at shopping centre in Edgware

A swastika was etched onto wooden panelling in the male toilets at Broadwalk Centre in Edgware. The Centre is popular with the large Jewish community in the area and hosts Chanukah celebrations.

The shopping centre management has pledged to take “swift action” to remove the swastika that was discovered last Wednesday. In the meantime, they have covered up the swastika temporarily and will replace the panel it is etched onto to fully remove it.

A spokesperson for the shopping centre told local Jewish media that they “were shocked and dismayed” to find the swastika, saying: “The symbol in question was etched into a panel which we have completely and securely covered with a wooden board and we will replace the panel itself as soon as possible. We will not accept any form of vandalism in the centre. Anyone caught will be banned from the centre and will be reported to the police.”

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CAA publishes pitifully-short list of prosecutions for antisemitic hate crime since 2015

Campaign Against Antisemitism has published a pitifully-short list of prosecutions for antisemitic hate crime since 2015.

Though antisemitic hate crime has risen to record levels, the list of prosecutions by the Crown Prosecution Service remains disturbingly short.

Hundreds of antisemitic hate crimes are recorded every year, but the number of prosecutions has not even reached two dozen prosecutions per annum. To put this in perspective, in 2015, the last year for which figures have been released by the Crown Prosecution Service, 15,422 hate crimes were prosecuted.

The list of prosecutions for antisemitism is available on our website.

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Abdul Ahaed convicted of shouting antisemitic abuse at police and racially abusing hostel worker

Abdul Ahaed, 29, has been convicted of racially abusing a hostel worker and then shouting antisemitic abuse at a police officer after arrest.

Ahaed was arrested on 26th November 2016 after police were called to a disturbance at a hostel in north London. During an altercation with a member of staff, Ahaed called him a “Black n*****”. Police arrived and arrested Ahaed for racial abuse. Ahaed became very abusive to police and while at the police station, shouted “Jewish c***” on two separate occasions at a police officer.

The Metropolitan Police Service Case Progression Unit in Hackney conducted an investigation Ahaed was charged with abusing the hostel worker and the officer. Ahaed pleaded guilty at Wood Green Crown Court to two counts of racially aggravated intentional harassment alarm and distress.

He was sentenced on 24th February 2017 to a 12-month community order, a 6-week curfew between 23:00 and 6:00, a 10-day rehabilitation activity requirement, a victim surcharge of £85 and payments of £100 each to the hostel worker and the police officer.

Campaign Against Antisemitism thanks the Metropolitan Police Service for dealing with this antisemitic and racist incident robustly.

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Two men shouting antisemitic death threats at synagogue-goers arrested by police helped by Shomrim

Two men have been arrested after allegedly shouting antisemitic abuse including death threats at Jewish people walking to synagogue in Stamford Hill in London. The two adults, described only as a black man and a white man reportedly began shouting abuse at 09:00 yesterday morning as Jewish families made their way to synagogue, at one point even entering the front garden of a synagogue.

Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, assisted officers from the Metropolitan Police Service in arresting the men.

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Jaroslaw Goloshko convicted after shouting “Heil Hitler” and performing Nazi salute at Jews on Christmas Day

Jaroslaw Goloshko has been convicted of a racially aggravated public order offence after choosing to spend his Christmas Day last year shouting “Heil Hitler” and performing a Nazi salute directed at Jewish passersby. Goloshko was spotted by volunteers from Shomrim Stamford Hill whilst out on patrol. They followed him and called the police who came and arrested him.

Shomrim volunteers do not simply alert the police to antisemitic criminals; they also provide statements and regularly give evidence in court, which is what they did in this case, helping to ensure that Goloshko was convicted.

Goloshko did not appear in court and was convicted in his absence. The court issued a warrant for his arrest.

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ISIS terrorists call for attacks on Jewish targets in the West, especially the UK

ISIS terrorists have called on their supporters to terrorise Jewish communities in the West, singling out the UK. This frightening call to arms emerged on an ISIS-linked Telegram channel called Lone Mujahid which is a chat room where aspiring terrorists are encourage to carry out “lone-wolf” attacks.

A chilling message contains a list of Jewish communities in the UK above a photograph of, Amedy Coulibaly, the terrorist who murdered four Jews in a kosher supermarket in Paris. The photograph is captioned, “Take the brother’s (rh) example and terrorize the Yahood (Jew).”

Another post urged fellow extremists to disguise themselves as Jews: “IF YOU’RE STILL IN THE WEST! Dress up like a Jew! Go to your nearest Jewish area! Make sure you have plenty of weapons under you coat! Then unleash the pain of the Muslims upon these A.P.E.S!!!.”

In December 2016, the channel posted a call to jihadists to prepare and launch attacks to coincide with Christmas, Chanukah and the new year celebrations. “Christmas, Hanukah and New Years Day is very soon InshaAllah. So let’s prepare a gift for the filthy pigs / apes,” reads one post, below a screenshot of a pressure cooker bomb-making tutorial.

There have been several other ISIS attacks on Jewish targets across the world. In May 2014, Mehdi Nemmouche, killed four people at the Jewish Museum in Brussels in the name of ISIS.

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100 people, including visiting schoolchildren, evacuated from Jewish Museum in London following bomb threat

The Jewish Museum in London was evacuated yesterday following a bomb threat. Thankfully the threat was a hoax. One hundred people, including children from two schools, were visiting at the time.

A spokesperson for the museum told the JC that the museum “was evacuated as a precaution following a security alert.” CST and police were called to the scene to implement security procedures.

The incident follows a series of bomb threats against Jewish institutions worldwide, including a bomb threat against Jewish schools in London.

Image credit: Graham Hale

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Neo-Nazi antisemite jailed for five years over hate crime and terrorism offences

Neo-Nazi antisemite Sean Creighton, 45, of Enfield, has been jailed for five years following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Service’s Counter Terrorism Command. This sentence will send a clear message of deterrence to antisemites.

Creighton said that Adolf Hitler was “God”, posed with a rifle in front of a Nazi flag and had a huge swastika tattooed on his chest. Following a search of his home, Creighton was found to be in possession of the White Resistance Manual 2.4, which police described as the kind of document likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism. The manual states that it explains “How to select or fabricate weapons useful in an armed struggle, how to manufacture, handle and employ explosives as part of an armed struggle, how to conduct a guerrilla campaign and how to select targets according to their value to our movement.”

Creighton, a member of the far-right National Front, was sentenced on Thursday to four years’ imprisonment for seven offences of incitement to racial hatred, and five years’ imprisonment for a terrorism offence, to run concurrently. He was also made subject to a notification order for 15 years.

Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford told Kingston Crown Court: “The defendant was a committed racist, a member of the National Front. He was enthralled by Nazism and Adolf Hitler whom he told police in his interviews was his God.”

Katy Thorne, defending Creighton, said he was “ashamed” and “admitted his views are odious and horrific to the vast majority of society.”

One of Crieghton’s social media posts said “You will never catch me shedding a tear for a n****r, Jew, commie or queer.” One image he posted showed “a number of trees, from each of which is hung one or more Jewish people with the word ‘Jew’ placed upon them by way of a sign.” Creighton used Russian social network VK because it allowed him to “post what he liked” after Facebook, which he called “Jewbook,” blocked him more than 300 times, the court heard.

Last week, Campaign Against Antisemitism submitted evidence to the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee about the growth of online antisemitism and the challenge it presents, and we proposed a robust plan for dealing with it.

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Man who stuck antisemitic stickers to Cambridge synagogue sentenced to two weeks of community work and two weeks of rehabilitation

Kristian Omilian, 30, has been sentenced to a 12-month community order for sticking antisemitic stickers on a synagogue in Auckland Road, Cambridge. He was caught on CCTV in November 2016.

On 9th February, he pleaded guilty to a racially and religiously aggravated public order offence. He was handed a restraining order at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court which prevents him from stepping within 100 yards of the synagogues in Thompsons Lane and Auckland Road and he must participate in up to 15 days of rehabilitation activity and undertake 120 hours of unpaid work.

This comes in the wake of other antisemitic incidents at the University of Cambridge in the last few months. Earlier this month, up to 30 antisemitic leaflets which supported claims made by convicted Holocaust denier David Irving, were pinned to cars parked on Sidgwick Avenue. Two swastikas had been drawn on a map on Jesus Green and antisemitic posters were placed in Christ’s College. In November last year, three Jewish students were assaulted in an antisemitic attack but the university refused to reveal the outcome of its investigations to the victims. In a statement, Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, said: “The recent commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day should remind us all of the horrors of racism and all acts of hatred and aggression against any religious or racial group. I strongly condemn the distribution of Holocaust denial leaflets across the University and elsewhere.”

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Five youths aged 13 to 16 years old arrested over antisemitic grafitti in Norfolk

Norfolk Constabulary has arrested five youths after workers found swastikas and an offensive antisemitic message spray-painted on walls near the post office at Long Stratton Shopping Centre.

In a statement, Norfolk Constabulary confirmed: “Five youths, four males and one female aged between 13 and 16 years old, have been arrested in connection with the incident. They have since been release on police bail pending further enquiries until April. Anyone who may have information about the incident should contact PC Chris Shelley at Diss Police Station on 101.”

Brandon Drewry, who works in One Stop convenience store, told local media that “They have sprayed our windows and cameras and we haven’t been able to clear it up as we’re waiting for a bill on the costs. It has angered me a lot, I have been here for six years and haven’t seen anything like it. It reflects the area in a bad way.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomes the speedy response from the police and will be following the case with interest.

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Slap on the wrist for antisemites who shouted “Shame Hitler didn’t finish the job” and “F***ing Jewish c***” at Shomrim

A man has pleaded guilty to shouting antisemitic abuse at volunteers from Stamford Hill Shomrim who suspected him of involvement in burglaries. Clive Wilson, 46, admitted shouting: “Shame Hitler didn’t finish the job, Heil Hitler, Heil Hitler, Allahu Akbar”. He had earlier denied the charge. Wilson was fined £160 and made to pay a £30 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs, a meagre sentence which will do nothing at all to deter antisemitic crime.

In December, his accomplice, Vandell Brooks, 39, who has a history of racism, pleaded guilty to shouting: “F***ing Jewish c***” at the Shomrim volunteers as she was loaded into a police van. She was fined £200, plus a £30 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs. Astonishingly, Wilson who initially did not plead guilty has received an even lower fine than his accomplice who pleaded guilty two months ago.

The incident took place on 13th December when volunteers from Stamford Hill Shomrim were on a routine foot patrol. They noticed a man and a woman whom they suspected might be linked to a spate of recent burglaries. The Shomrim volunteers immediately called the Metropolitan Police Service, which arrested the pair.

During the arrest, the Wilson looked at the Shomrim volunteers, who are charedi Jews, and said: “Funny-looking f***ers” at which point the police officers warned him that he would be committing a criminal offence if he continued. He then shouted: “Shame Hitler didn’t finish the job, Heil Hitler, Heil Hitler, Allahu Akbar”.

We commend Stamford Hill Shomrim for their valuable work on behalf of all residents of the area, and we applaud the officers involved for their firm stance against antisemitism.

We are disappointed by the sentence. Lenient sentencing emboldens offenders instead of deterring them, and both Brooks and Wilson have received a mere slap on the wrist.

https://twitter.com/Shomrim/status/833714817408040966

https://twitter.com/baz_j/status/833781352688402432

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Belfast Jewish community stops posting details of events online following threat

A threatening antisemitic message and image have been sent to the Jewish community in Belfast, Northern Ireland, via the community’s Facebook page. The community subsequently posted a heartfelt message on Facebook that “Until further notice we cannot put up times, dates and locations of events to do with the Belfast Jewish Community.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has contacted the community about this incident.

Rabbi David Singer, the Rabbi of the Belfast Jewish community, has confirmed to local media that the matter has been reported to police and that is being treated as a hate crime. The community has reported receiving “overwhelming” support from the public following the incident.

A police spokeswoman said that “Police have received a complaint regarding abusive messages posted on social media” and “Enquiries are continuing into the matter.”

In August last year, 13 Jewish graves were damaged in an antisemitic attack at Belfast City Cemetery. No arrests have been made in connection with the vandalism.

Belfast’s Jewish community has been dwindling for a number of years. According to the last census in 2011, only 335 Jews remain in the whole of Northern Ireland.

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Police investigating antisemitic graffiti found in Kew promoting Holocaust denial and Jewish conspiracy myth

Grossly offensive and antisemitic graffiti has been found on park benches next to Kew Pier in the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames.

While walking her dog on Sunday 12th February, Drorit Etzioni, a Jewish lady, spotted the antisemitic graffiti and took photos. “Bank of England” surrounded by stars of David was daubed in thick black paint on one bench and “Goyim, Holohoax, Google” on another. She was left shaken by the graffiti. A friend reported the incident to Campaign Against Antisemitism and the police on her behalf so that it can be thoroughly investigated and the graffiti removed. Kew Pier and nearby Kew Gardens are popular spots for young families and tourists.

“Bank of England” is a reference to the antisemitic canard of nefarious Jewish financial influence. Jews are often accused by antisemites and neo-Nazis of exercising supposed financial dominance to hide ‘evidence’ of a Jewish conspiracy, such as a conspiracy to exaggerate or invent the Holocaust. The star of David is the symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.

“Goyim” means non-Jew or gentile in Yiddish but it has been usurped by neo-Nazis and Holocaust deniers as a means of demonstrating Jewish ‘otherness’ and is frequently used to suggest that Jews have a derogatory view of non-Jews. “Holohoax” is a word used by Holocaust-deniers to portray the extermination of six million Jews as a fraud perpetrated by the Jewish people for financial gain. “Google” was probably written to encourage passersby to search the above words online, where the top search results would include Holocaust denial websites.

Anybody with information should call the police on 101.

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CAA asks Attorney General to review sentence after teenager who made “viable” bomb for “all-out race war” walks free

A 17-year-old neo-Nazi from Bradford who made a homemade pipe bomb in order to start an “all-out race war” has been sentenced to a mere three-year Youth Rehabilitation Order and ordered to receive intensive counselling from a deradicalisation expert.

We condemn this unduly lenient sentence which entirely fails to deter terrorism against British Jews.

As we reported in January, the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is a member of National Action, a violent neo-Nazi group which recruits teenage children and university students. The Home Secretary recently designated National Action a proscribed terrorist organisation after a long campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others.

The boy, who praised the killer of MP Jo Cox, was arrested by the North East Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) in July 2016 after a member of the public alerted police to a series of Snapchat photos of the bomb including threats to British Jews and other minorities and an image of the pipe bomb. One post showed a crude, home-made device, accompanied by the words “Incendiary explosive and home-made black powder. More to come.”

When police entered his bedroom they found it festooned with Nazi flags including swastikas and the emblem of Hitler’s Waffen SS. His laptop screensaver was an image of a Nazi eagle over a Swastika and Hitler’s famous slogan: “Ein volk, ein reich, ein führer” (one people, one nation, one führer). Police found the bomb in a drawer. They even found that he had posted on social media: “I wish the Nazis had won the war. I wish I could have lived back then and fought alongside the British free Korps, and had the privilege of praising the Führer. Hail Hitler!”

Last month he was found guilty of making explosives but acquitted of the preparation of terrorist acts. Head of Investigations at the North East CTU, Detective Superintendent Simon Atkinson, said: “The fact that this individual had constructed a viable device, capable of causing injury or harm, is extremely concerning. To make and possess such a device is dangerous and constitutes a serious criminal offence.”

Passing sentence Mr Justice Goss said the boy needed “a considerable amount of work and attention” in order to address his behaviour. The judge told the boy he rejected his claim to have been “merely fooling about with fireworks” and said “you have continued to express extreme views”. He said the boy would have received “a substantial custodial sentence” had he been convicted of preparing terrorist acts.

The teenager told the court he still held Nazi views. This pitiful sentence, once again sees a neo-Nazi being given carte blanche.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is writing to the Attorney General requesting that the sentence be reviewed.

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Shomrim release image of antisemitic road rage suspect

Shomrim North West London has released an image of a suspect in an antisemitic road rage incident. A man allegedly shouted “F***ing Jewish prick” at a Jewish man before smashing a window and a wing mirror. The incident allegedly took place at the junction of Conley Hatch Lane and the A406 at 14:00 on 31st January.

Shomrim North West London are working with the Metropolitan Police Service to ensure that the assailant is brought to justice.

Anybody with information should call Shomrim North West London on 0300 999 1234 or the police on 101.

https://twitter.com/shomrimlondon/status/830092360499474434

https://twitter.com/shomrimlondon/status/826444913780867072

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27 months in prison for online troll who targeted Jews with death threats

John Nimmo, a vile antisemitic online troll has been sentenced to two years and three months in prison for targeting Jews with sickening antisemitic abuse and death threats, including Jewish Labour MP, Luciana Berger.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how Nimmo wrote to Berger, referring to her as “Jewish scum” and signing off as “your friend the Nazi”. He sent her images of a knife and told her she would “get it like Jo Cox”, the MP murdered by a far-right terrorist. Berger was far from being the only victim. Another victim received a message from Nimmo saying: “Watch your back you Jewish inbred, you’re dead meat,” which he signed “National Action”, referring to the antisemitic neo-Nazi terrorist group proscribed by the Home Secretary following a campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism. One female victim told police: “I didn’t know what John Nimmo would do next. I have never encountered such an evil person in my life.”

On Friday, Nimmo pleaded guilty to nine charges relating to grossly offensive, threatening and false communications. His sentence was increased on account of his convictions for previous similar offences and the racist nature of his messages.

Judge Robert Adams told Nimmo: “You caused terror and paranoia. You attacked people who were helping society in a variety of different ways. The offences were carried out from the comfort of your own home, where you thought you would never be identified while causing misery to other people.”

We commend the victims for stepping forward, and the police for their detailed investigation.

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Police issue image of man wanted for questioning in connection with spate of antisemitic stickers on London Underground

British Transport Police has released an image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with a spate of antisemitic stickers on London Underground. The stickers used Nazi terminology and swastikas had been drawn on by hand. British Transport Police has so far identified seven stickers at Piccadilly Circus and Covent Garden stations, which they were notified about during rush hour between Tuesday 10th January and Thursday 12th January.

The stickers were removed and British Transport Police has reviewed CCTV to try to identify the culprit. The image released is of a many they would like to speak to. Anyone with any information is asked to send a text to 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 174 of 07/02/2017. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Investigating officer Ben Hurley said: “There is no place for intolerance and racism in our society and we take a firm stance against anyone who carries out these offences. All instances of hate crime are taken extremely seriously and we would actively encourage anyone who has spotted these stickers on public transport to contact us. Our enquiries are ongoing and I am hopeful that someone will recognise the man in the CCTV images.”

https://twitter.com/BTP/status/829274608960413700

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Jewish family scared to go out after garden vandalised and bacon hung on doorbell

A woman in Bushey has posted photographs on Facebook showing slices of bacon hanging over her doorbell next to her Mezuzah, a decorative case containing a Jewish prayer which is traditionally fixed to the doorpost of a Jewish home. She also posted photographs showing the vandalised front garden of the home she shares with her mother.

She wrote on Facebook that the incident has left her scared to leave the house as she suspects neighbours committed the crime as part of an ongoing series of hate crimes which have allegedly included them calling her mother a “Jewish c***”.

Our Crime Unit has requested further information from the victim, who says that she has endured antisemitism throughout her life, including a teacher calling her a “Nazi” and a man burning her with a cigarette because he did not want Jews to share the same pathway as him.

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Six months in jail for teenager who pelted Jews with gas canisters while shouting “Hitler is coming, Heil Hitler”

Patrick Delaney has been sentenced to spend six months in prison for his part in an antisemitic assault in January last year. Delaney, of Twin Oaks Caravan Park, Coggeshall, Essex, admitted causing religiously aggravated harassment alarm or distress after inhaling laughing gas following an argument with his wife. He has a previous conviction for religiously aggravated abuse.

On the evening of 6th January 2016, Delaney, a 19-year-old father of one, began pelting Jewish shoppers with gas canisters, including a 13-year-old child. As Jewish people passed Poundland in Tottenham Hale, London, Delaney shouted “Hitler is coming, Heil Hitler, Heil Hitler, Heil Hitler” and threw small gas refill canisters towards Cheya Stern and her 13-year-old son, her brother Simon Lemberger and Abraham Lew. Though none of them were injured, they were badly shaken by the experience. Shomrim, the Jewish neighbourhood watch patrol, was called by the victims and liaised with the police.

The court heard that Mr Lemberger walked past Poundland first and saw three men in a parked white van repeatedly sounding the horn. Next, Ms Stern and her son passed the van and were subjected to shouts of “Heil Hitler” whilst the men tried to scare her son by making faces. They began running at which point they were pelted with gas canisters. As Mr Lemberger left a shop with Mr Lew, they too were subjected to racist abuse whilst 20 to 30 gas canisters were thrown at them.

Patrick Delaney’s brothers Francis Delaney, 23, and Michael Doherty, 25, were also in the van and were arrested, but charges against them were dropped.

In a victim impact statement, Ms Stern said: “This incident has brought back such bad memories for me and has left me with a shocking feeling inside. I know it will take me a long time to get over. It was a truly horrible experience for us. We didn’t do anything to these men, we didn’t agitate them. We were just in fact people wanting to go shopping.”

Passing sentence, Judge John Dodd, QC, told Delaney: “On an evening last year, Ms Stern and her 13-year-old son, along with her brother and a friend of his, all visited the retail park in Tottenham Hale. All are members of the Orthodox Jewish community here in north London and that fact would have been clearly visible to you. You repeatedly subjected those individuals, including Ms Stern’s 13-year-old boy, to foul language. All recall you referring to Hitler and saying Hitler was coming. Those words were plainly intended to cause distress and they plainly did. You and your two companions were parked up in order to sniff laughing gas. You threw some of those metal canisters towards your victims. This conduct must have added to the air of menace that you so successfully generated. It is important to recall that group had done absolutely nothing to offend you or to upset you. Yet you chose to insult them. Ms Stern, as a mother, was particularly upset for the sake of her son. What parent would not be seeing their child exposed to this sort of disgraceful behaviour?

“This is plainly in my view serious enough so as to call for an immediate custodial sentence. Your conduct was simply disgraceful. No civilised society can allow any such conduct to be considered in any sense acceptable. We all need, especially in these challenging times, to remember that no man, woman or child is an island. We must show, all of us, compassion towards each other and even if you do not agree with the lifestyles of others you must tolerate them. You didn’t.”

Delaney hugged his wife and cried as he was taken down to the cells.

In a statement, Rabbi Herschel Gluck, President of Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, said: “The case has been dealt with extremely well. One sees that everyone is taking this very seriously and everyone understands the sensitivity of this matter vis-a-vis the Jewish community. I feel in general that a message has to go out that this type of behaviour is totally beyond the pale. On a personal level, I do feel for him. I feel that his family background is such that I have compassion.”

We commend Shomrim and authorities for taking this offence seriously, and we are particularly satisfied that Delaney was given a suitable custodial sentence, sending a message of deterrence to others who might be tempted to target Jews.

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Police and Shomrim investigating antisemitic road rage assailant caught on camera

Police are searching for a man who attacked a Jewish driver in an antisemitic fit of road rage. Videos seen by Campaign Against Antisemitism show a man shouting “F***ing Jewish prick” at a Jewish man. He allegedly then smashed a window and a wing mirror. Shomrim North West London are working with the Metropolitan Police Service to ensure that the assailant is brought to justice.

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Suspect arrested five months after allegedly shouting “Heil Hitler” at Jews in London

A suspect has been arrested in connection with a crime in August last year in which a man allegedly shouted “Heil Hitler” and other antisemitic abuse at Jewish victims in London. We commend the victim for persevering with the Metropolitan Police Service and insisting that they level charges against the suspect, and we salute Shomrim Stamford Hill, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, which has assisted the victim throughout.

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CAA marks Holocaust Memorial Day at police ceremony and with BBC programme

Campaign Against Antisemitism has marked Holocaust Memorial Day at the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony held by the Metropolitan Police Service. Stephen Silverman, our Director of Investigations and Enforcement was invited to light a memorial candle at the ceremony, where he also discussed resurgent antisemitism with Deputy Commissioner Craig Mackey.

We also worked with the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire to arrange a conversation between a Holocaust survivor, Susan Pollack MBE, and a Jewish student, Binyomin Gilbert, about antisemitism in Britain.

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CCTV shows man in London repeatedly vandalising cars parked outside synagogue

Shomrim North West London has released CCTV footage showing a man repeatedly vandalising cars parked outside a synagogue and Jewish community centre. The most recent vandalism occurred outside Od Yosef Chai synagogue on Finchley Lane in Barnet, London at 20:35 on 15th January. Each time the man passes the building, he vandalises the cars parked outside, but does not vandalise the cars parked outside other buildings.

Witnesses have been asked to contact the police on 101 or Shomrim North West London on 0300 999 1234.

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5 months in prison for Polish football fans who sprayed antisemitic graffiti across Tunbridge Wells

Two Polish football hooligans who sprayed antisemitic graffiti and football slogans across Tunbridge Wells in a one-night rampage have been sentenced to spend 22 weeks in prison.

On 17th November 2016, Sebastian Tancula and Damian Filipek met at Stansted Airport and went out drinking. Filipek, a scrapyard worker who has been in the UK for four years and Tancula, who was visiting, painted slogans on twenty homes and businesses across Tunbridge Wells. Maidstone Crown Court heard that whilst one of the men vandalised the buildings, the other prevented members of the public from stopping him. Customers and staff at a pub alerted the police and one customer even tailed the men until the police arrived, finding them with their hands covered in red paint — “literally red-handed” as prosecutor Mary Jacobson put it.

The graffiti consisted of football slogans such as “Wisla Sharks” accompanied by “Amti Jude” meaning “anti-Jewish” and a star of David. In Poland the fans of Wisla Sharks are infamous for violence and antisemitism.

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council was left with a clean-up bill of £2,641 but the court heard that most of the businesses and homes affected would need to undertake further repair work at their own cost. One of the businesses was due to have its grand opening the day after the crimes were committed, causing its owners “outrage, shock and upset”.

Craig Evans, defending Filipek, said the scrapyard worker was “sincerely remorseful” and Danny Moore, defending Tancula, said the machine operator was not antisemitic and was merely directing hatred at the Jewish fans of rival team Wisla Krakow, rather than the wider community more generally, which he seems to have felt was a defence.

Krakow’s Jewish population consisted of 60,000 men, women and children before the Holocaust, but the Jewish population now stands at a few hundred people.

At Maidstone Crown Court, Tancula and Filipek pleaded guilty to eighteen offences of criminal damage and two offences of racially aggravated criminal damage for the antisemitic slogans. Sentencing them, Judge Charles Macdonald QC said that “The expression of such antisemitic ideas is deeply offensive”.

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Swastika on Tube has been reported after weekend’s antisemitic attacks

A swastika found on a London Underground Northern Line train has been reported following Campaign Against Antisemitism’s appeal for witnesses to any antisemitic behaviour in North West London this weekend to contact Shomrim.

A member of the public contacted North West London Shomrim after finding the swastika drawn in marker pen on a train in either the last or the second-from-last carriage of a Northern Line train which left Edgware station between 19:00 and 20:00 on Saturday night, departing from platform 2. North West London Shomrim have reported the graffiti to the police over a possible link to the spate of antisemitic incidents over the weekend which included Jews being pelted with eggs and a brick covered in antisemitic slurs being hurled through a Jewish family’s window.

If you saw anything suspicious, please contact Shomrim North West London.

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Advertisement for film about Holocaust denial defaced with antisemitic graffiti

An advertisement for the film Denial which will open in cinemas later this month has been defaced with antisemitic graffiti. A photograph of Jewish actress Rachel Weisz, who plays Jewish historian Deborah Lipstadt, was defaced with the word “B-Witch” and a star of David. Other actors were labelled as “Creep”. The film retells the story of how antisemitic Holocaust denier David Irving sued Lipstadt and her publisher for libel after she called him an antisemitic Holocaust denier in one of her books. He lost and the case bankrupted him.

The defaced poster was reported by Shomrim North West London, a Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

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Shabbat calm shattered with a brick through a Jewish family’s window, eggs hurled at Jews and a swastika daubed on a home

The calm of the Jewish sabbath (Shabbat) was shattered yesterday as a brick covered in swastikas was hurled through the window of a Jewish family’s home, Jewish pedestrians were pelted with eggs and a swastika was drawn on another home.

Shomrim North West London, a volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol run by the Jewish community, have reported that in three seemingly separate incidents, Jews were sought out for racist attacks.

The first incident came as Jewish families walked home from attending traditional Friday night dinner at friends’ and families’ homes. At approximately 22:30, a car was seen driving down Edgwarebury Lane, Edgware, from which the occupants hurled eggs at recognisably-Jewish pedestrians.

As day broke on Saturday, a brick on which swastikas and antisemitic slurs were drawn was thrown through the window of a Jewish family’s home in Edgware, leaving them feeling unsafe in their own home.

Then, later in the day, police discovered a swastika on a residential building on Watford Way, Mill Hill.

Shomrim North West London is appealing for any witnesses to call them on 0300 999 1234. The Metropolitan Police Service is investigating the incidents.

These were hit-and-run attacks on Jewish families at night. Antisemitic crime is on the rise and these cowardly attacks must lead to arrests and convictions. Jewish families in our capital should not be living in fear of antisemitic attacks.

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Piers Corbyn tweets Jewish conspirators will force Trump into war ‘just like they did to Hitler’

Jeremy Corbyn’s brother, Piers Corbyn, a climate forecaster and fervent supporter of his brother, has issued his latest long-term prediction on Twitter: that Jewish conspirators and the Royal Family will force Donald Trump into war, just like they did to Hitler.

Piers Corbyn retweeted @whiteknight0011, a notorious neo-Nazi who declared that “They will force Trump in to war What do you think happened to Hitler? Bilderberg CIA IMF Banker Gangsters They are the problem” along with four images.

One shows Lord Jacob Rothschild, the Jewish banker and philanthropist, against the background of a Nazi flag, claiming that he controls the world. A second shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a puppeteer controlling ISIS through Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, orchestrating the war in Syria and Paris attacks as Lord Rothschild and the Queen look on approvingly. A third image shows the faces of supposed Jewish conspirators who run the world to society’s detriment, proclaiming: “Know your enemy”. The last image shows a family photo of the Royal Family, claiming that they are in cahoots with these Jewish conspirators in committing “the worst genocides, invasions and theft in all history.”

Piers and Jeremy have a long history of political solidarity. Piers has boasted of the family’s anti-racist credentials, but the mask is slipping. The man who now broadcasts that the Jews were responsible for the Second World War, is the same that claimed a Jewish conspiracy against his brother: when Jewish MP Louise Ellman complained of antisemitic attacks against her, Piers Corbyn accused her of using it as a cover for political attack, tweeting: “ABSURD! JC+ All #Corbyns are committed #AntiNazi. #Zionists cant cope with anyone supporting rights for #Palestine”. Brother Jeremy’s response: “He’s not wrong”.

The apple does not fall far from the tree in the Corbyn household. Jeremy Corbyn has not publicly repudiated his brother, nor any number of individuals in the Labour Party attacking the Jewish community. We would like to think it is time to start, but have long realised that any pretence that Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour is ‘anti-racist’ are now history.

What will happen next? Will Piers Corbyn say he didn’t notice the images? It’s impossible to comprehend the text without looking at the images. Will Jeremy Corbyn rally to his brother’s defence as he has before? Will they ignore the incident?

Jeremy Corbyn endorsed his brother’s views last time he alleged there was a Jewish conspiracy. Now that tweeting Jewish conspiracies is perfectly normal in the Labour Party of today, maybe Jeremy Corbyn will give his brother a peerage.

https://twitter.com/JolyonGreen/status/822690033807269889

https://twitter.com/whiteknight0011/status/822555579763884036

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‘Lynch Jews’ graffiti found in Ealing by Jewish couple out for a stroll

A couple out for a walk along the Grand Union Canal in Ealing were shocked to find graffiti depicting a star of David hanging from a gallows. Their daughter, Liorah Tchiprout shared a photo on Facebook and commented: “My lovely parents went for a walk yesterday afternoon by Grand Union Canal near their home in Ealing, West London and saw this. Lovely. I’m making this public so it can be shared. Just in case people don’t believe that antisemitism is still alive and well in the UK.”

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National Action member was allegedly caught with a viable homemade bomb and Nazi flags, court hears

Leeds Crown Court has heard that a 17-year-old prepared a viable homemade bomb in preparation for an “all-out race war”. The defendant is allegedly a member of National Action, a violent neo-Nazi group which recruits teenage children and university students. The Home Secretary designated National Action a proscribed terrorist organisation last month after a long campaign by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others.

Prosecutor Barnaby Jameson told the jury that the teenage defendant made a viable bomb using fireworks after seeking out instructions on the internet. He said that the defendant often wore a business suit, but beneath his respectable veneer he was an unabashed neo-Nazi who allegedly sent friends racist Snapchat messages, leading to police being alerted to what he was preparing.

When police entered his bedroom they found it festooned with Nazi flags including the swastika and the emblem of Hitler’s Waffen SS. His laptop screensaver was an image of a Nazi eagle over a Swastika and Hitler’s famous slogan: “Ein volk, ein reich, ein führer” (one people, one nation, one führer). Police found the bomb in a drawer.

According to the prosecution, police found that after he became involved with National Action, the defendant had written online: “Focusing on making homemade weapons [guns] and explosives, as well as amassing a collection of knives. We don’t have any right to bears arms, so the resistance has to learn to construct its own weapons.” He began attending National Action rallies and participating in sticker campaigns to spread their message, the prosecutor said. In early June, he wrote to a friend on Facebook Messenger: “The IRA is where we get most of our techniques from. We follow them religiously, the way they operated in an urban environment. The way they blended into the population. Urban guerrilla warfare is what we need to learn.” He also posted: “I wish the Nazis had won the war. I wish I could have lived back then and fought alongside the British free Korps, and had the privilege of praising the Führer. Hail Hitler!”

The court heard that the defendant attended a meeting with his mother last July at his college after being found to have put up racist posters. He allegedly dressed in a combat jacket and trousers and steel-capped army boots, and made clear his views that the Holocaust did not happen and that whites were more important than other races.

The prosecution alleges that the defendant was preparing an “all-out race war” and that he praised the methods of the man who murdered Jo Cox, writing on social media following the brutal murder: “Absolute f***ing legend. He’s a hero, we need more people like him to butcher the race traitors.” The defendant, whose name has not been released, denies a charge of preparing a terrorist act and an alternative count of making a explosive device. He allegedly told police: “I’ve simply been fooling around with fireworks and showing them off to my peers in my naivety; I have never had the intention to cause any harm to any person.”

The prosecutor told the jury: “As we will hear in due course, [the defendant] did something with a pipebomb that was less to do with ‘f***ing around with them’ and more to do with an ideological war he was waging.”

We are following the trial with interest.

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Unmasked antisemitic YouTube blogger faces police probe of “Jewish problem” comments

YouTube video blogger “Millenial Woes” has been unmasked as Colin Robertson, a 34-year-old unemployed former arts student, from Linlithgow, Scotland. Robertson attracted a thousands-strong far-right audience with his videos made in the spare bedroom of his father’s house.

Robertson spoke at a rally in Washington DC in which neo-Nazis infamously shouted “Hail Trump” whilst performing Nazi salutes, leading Donald Trump to comment: “I condemn them. I disavow, and I condemn.” In a short documentary about the incident, Robertson said: “Two or three years ago, I finally came to understand what is called the ‘Jewish Question’. That there are problems with the Jewish people. And that was difficult because I really didn’t want to become an antisemite. It’s like the cliché, the biggest right-wing cliché.”

Robertson would regularly record himself speaking from his father’s spare bedroom against “Jew thinking” and other topics that attracted his ire, such as women being allowed to vote, describing violence as “inevitable”, until he was unmasked by bloggers from A Thousand Flowers. Robertson’s newly-revealed identity soon attracted press attention, and he has now posted a video claiming to have fled the country, and asking his supporters to send him donations so that he can support himself.

Police Scotland has opened an investigation. We are following the case with interest.

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Brutal antisemitic and homophobic Christmas Day attack leaves young couple and friend with cracked bones and nerve damage

A couple and their friend in their twenties have been brutally assaulted by a gang hurling antisemitic and homophobic abuse.

Jayson Homer, 20, and his partner, who wished to remain anonymous, went out for a drink with two friends at the Jolly Farmers pub in Thornaby, North Yorkshire on Christmas Day, when Mr Homer’s partner was identified as Jewish by a group seated near them. The 21-year-old told Gazette Live: “At first a girl in the group started taking the mick out of me for being Jewish. Then another lad from the group came over saying being Jewish was a race. I was disagreeing with him and it was just a little debate really at first. But then the girl started shouting ‘queer’ at me. Every time I went to the toilet someone said it while I was walking past.”

Mr Homer, his partner and their two friends tried to ignore the taunts until the situation became unbearable and they decided to leave. As they left though, a group of approximately fifteen people approached them from behind. They attacked Mr Homer with a bottle in his face, blocking his vision as his eyes filled with blood. They then turned their attention to Mr Homer’s partner, punching and kicking his head and body, leaving him with bruising across his body, a black eye, suspected cracked ribs and a broken nose. He said: “It was calculated, they followed us down with weapons.”

Mr Homer said that the incident has left him “feeling suicidal” and that he has undergone checks for potential brain damage. His partner also requires further checks whilst their friend, Marc Vasey, 21, has been told that he has been left with nerve damage to his cheek

Cleveland Police are investigating the attack and urged anyone with information to call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. The verbal abuse at the pub is believed to have begun at about 20:30 on 25th December at the Jolly Farmers pub on Thornaby Road, and the violent attack outside the pub occurred at about 23:15.

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Man begins his Boxing Day in police van after shouting antisemitic abuse at Shomrim

A London man has begun his Boxing Day with a trip in a police van after shouting antisemitic abuse at a volunteer from Stamford Hill Shomrim. The incident began when a routine Shomrim patrol spotted a drunk man walking into the road. Concerned for his safety, the volunteers succeeding in convincing him to return to the pavement, however the man then allegedly became irate, swearing in Polish and shouting about Hitler and Auschwitz before telling the Shomrim volunteers to “F*** off”. The Shomrim team called the Metropolitan Police Service, and the man was arrested by officers from Hackney.

Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol, sends its volunteers on patrols around neighbourhoods where crime is common, resulting in drastic reductions in everything from burglary to car crime to assault. Sadly, Shomrim are finding that a growing number of incidents relate to antisemitic abuse of London’s ultra-orthodox Charedi community.

In 2016, Shomrim volunteers have repeatedly caught antisemitic criminals red handed, and acted to ensure that they were arrested. Shomrim volunteers do not simply alert the police to antisemitic criminals; they also provide statements and regularly give evidence in court. Consequently a large proportion of the pitifully small number of convictions for antisemitic hate crime each year are the result of Shomrim’s work.

We had hoped that the incident reported by Shomrim on Christmas Day might be the last antisemitic incident they would encounter in 2016, but this man had other plans. We commend Shomrim for their incredible work both for the local Jewish community and all residents of the areas in which they operate.

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London man arrested for shouting “Heil Hitler” and performing Nazi salute at Jews

A man has been arrested after choosing to spend his Christmas Day shouting “Heil Hitler” and performing a Nazi salute directed at Jewish passersby. The man was spotted by volunteers from Shomrim Stamford Hill whilst out on patrol. They followed the man and called the police who came and arrested him.

In 2016, Shomrim volunteers have repeatedly caught antisemitic criminals red handed, and acted to ensure that they were arrested. Shomrim volunteers do not simply alert the police to antisemitic criminals; they also provide statements and regularly give evidence in court. Consequently a large proportion of the pitifully small number of convictions for antisemitic hate crime each year are the result of Shomrim’s work.

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Man launches antisemitic assault on Tesco staff and police officer but escapes with fine and hate crime course

A man in Llandrindod Wells, Wales, has been found guilty of assaulting Tesco staff and hurling a bottle at a police officer whilst shouting antisemitic abuse, but in an appallingly lenient sentence, he has been spared jail, despite being a repeat offender.

Philip Anthony Kuegler, 50, pleaded guilty to a charge of using religiously aggravated threatening words or behaviour to cause fear of violence and to assaulting a police officer at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates’ Court. We are staggered however by his light sentence. Kuegler escaped with a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years, meaning that he walked free from court and will remain free so long as he does not reoffend and completes 20 rehabilitation activity days and five hate crime sessions, pays the police officer £300 in compensation and pays a £115 victim surcharge.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies said that Kuegler was the last customer at Llandrindod Wells Tesco just after midnight on 15th September, when he became abusive towards a member of staff. He was trying to purchase three bottles of cider at a self-service checkout but became angry when a member of staff informed him that the machine only operated using bank cards. Kuegler reportedly shouted at staff that everyone who works at Tesco is Jewish and squared up to the night manager, Mr Robinson, who told Kuegler he was Jewish himself and found his comments offensive. Mr Davies said that “The manager asked him to leave but he continued to shout and swear about Jews. He placed his forehead against Mr Robinson’s and [Mr Robinson] thought he was going to headbutt him. He pulled out one of the bottles and held it over Mr Robinson’s head.” Kuegler then smashed the bottle on the ground and walked away. According to statements given by staff to Dyfed-Powys Police, Kuegler was “extremely aggressive and abusive,” appeared drunk and made comments such as “they are all Jews”.

When a police officer found Kuegler on a bench outside a hotel, he tried to walk away. When the officer followed him, he turned and threw one of the cider bottles at him, which went over the officer’s head as he ducked. Mr Davies said Kuegler then grabbed the officer and spat at him, hitting him in the face and eyes. He was arrested and interviewed, saying he only remembered speaking to Tesco staff and smashing a bottle in the car park.

At the trial, a probation officer gave evidence, saying: “He has some difficulty with people he perceives as being disrespectful to him. He has accepted responsibility and accepted that the offences are serious and need to be addressed.” He added that Kuegler suffers from anxiety and depression and recommended a suspended sentence to include a course of sessions on hate crime, saying Kuegler complied well with a previous suspended sentence.

Defending Kuegler, Gareth Walters said: “In his own words, he doesn’t drink too often but when he does drink he drinks to excess and beyond that. The comments in relation to Jewish people were directed to Tesco in general, he didn’t know the manager was Jewish. It was a very silly and drunken outburst but it was a very short lived incident.

Indefensibly lenient sentences such as this endanger the Jewish community and society in general. Philip Kuegler violently abused Tesco staff, believing them to be Jews, and could easily have seriously injured the police officer. This sentence sends a clear message to antisemites that they may escape with minimal consequences, and sends a message to British Jews that the criminal justice system may fail them and leave them vulnerable.

We are making further enquiries into this case.

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Woman pleads guilty to shouting antisemitic abuse at Shomrim, but only fined despite her record of racism

A woman has pleaded guilty to shouting antisemitic abuse at volunteers from Stamford Hill Shomrim who suspected her of involvement in burglaries. Vandell Brooks, 39, admitted shouting: “F***ing Jewish c***” at the Shomrim volunteers as she was loaded into a police van. She was fined £200, plus a £30 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs.

The incident took place on 13th December when volunteers from Stamford Hill Shomrim were on a routine foot patrol. They noticed a man and a woman whom they suspected might be linked to a spate of recent burglaries. The Shomrim volunteers immediately called the Metropolitan Police Service, which arrested the pair.

During the arrest, the man allegedly looked at the Shomrim volunteers, who are charedi Jews, and said: “Funny-looking f***ers” at which point the police officers warned him that he would be committing a criminal offence if he continued. He allegedly then shouted: “Shame Hitler didn’t finish the job, Heil Hitler, Heil Hitler, Allahu Akbar”. Clive Wilson, 46, denies the charge and will stand trial next year.

We commend Stamford Hill Shomrim for their valuable work on behalf of all residents of the area, and we applaud the officers involved for their firm stance against antisemitism.

We are disappointed by the sentence however as Vandell Brooks has a record of racism. In 2012 she was caught on video in a foul-mouthed tirade against white people. Lenient sentencing emboldens offenders instead of deterring them.

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Coventry University calls in police after swastika found

Coventry University has called in the police after Jewish students found a swastika on campus. The swastika was found on 1st December by Josephine Davidoff and Zac Davies in the library. The swastika was depicted using masking tape on a radiator. CCTV has been checked for evidence unsuccessfully, but Coventry University’s Jewish Society has commended the firm handling of the incident by university authorities.

Last month, Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Programme Manager was attacked by an antisemite whilst walking through Coventry.

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Man guilty of incitement for calling Jews “maggots in a decaying body…hijacking the genes of a superior white race”

A man has been convicted of incitement to racial hatred over his antisemitic Facebook posts and a speech on YouTube.

Lawrence Burns was found guilty of two charges of publishing threatening, abusive or insulting written material with intent or likely intent to stir up racial hatred by a jury at Cambridge Crown Court yesterday, over his efforts to spread “vile and offensive sentiments” after jury deliberations lasting over thirteen hours. He is expected to be sentenced early next year.

The jurors had heard how Burns, aged 26 from Coldham’s Lane in Cambridge, spoke in a YouTube video memorialising American white supremacist leader David Lane, accusing Jews of being “parasites” that wanted to create a “mongrelised race”.

Burns pleaded not guilty, but prosecutor Mark Weekes said: “This is a young man who is an extremist and has expressed racist views, particularly towards the Jewish and Afro-Caribbean community. On his public Facebook account, which has more than 90 friends, he expressed some of the vilest and most offensive sentiments possible. Many of the posts are abusive and insulting towards Jews, who he refers to as ‘sub human animals’.” In one post, Burns compared Jews to “maggots in a decaying body” who are “hijacking the genes of a superior white race”.

Adrian Davis, who was defending Burns said he was a “rash young man” who had never intended his words to be read by a wide audience.

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CAA launches first private prosecution after CPS fails to act, first hearing tomorrow

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched its first private prosecution. We felt obliged to act after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) failed to prosecute Alison Chabloz of Glossop, Derbyshire.

Alison Chabloz has been summoned to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court in Central London tomorrow.

The summons alleges: “That on or around the 8th day of June 2016, Alison Chabloz did send or cause to be sent, by means of a public electronic communications network, a message or other matter, namely a YouTube video under the title ‘(((Survivors)))’ that was grossly offensive in that it was antisemitic, contrary to section 127(1) of the Communications act 2003.”

In the video entitled “(((Survivors)))”, Alison Chabloz performs a song to the camera in which she refers to various antisemitic tropes and makes a mockery of those who lived through and during the Holocaust, including:

  • “Did the Holocaust ever happen? Was it just a bunch of lies? Seems that some intend to pull the wool over our eyes. Eternal wandering liars haven’t got a clue, and when it comes to usury, victim’s always me and you.”
  • “Now Auschwitz, holy temple, is a theme park just for fools, the gassing zone a proven hoax, indoctrination rules.”
  • “Tell us another, come on, my brother, reap it, the cover, for tribal gain. Safe in our tower, now is the hour, money and power, we have no shame.”
  • “History repeats itself, no limit to our wealth, thanks to your debts we’re bleeding you dry. We control your media, control all your books and TV, with the daily lies we’re feeding, suffering victimisation. Sheeple have no realisation, you shall pay, all the way, until the break of day.”

The case of Alison Chabloz is one of many that we intend to prosecute privately. Last year was the worst year for antisemitic crime on record, with crime targeting Jews rising by 26% and a 51% surge in antisemitic violence, however of the 15,442 hate crimes prosecuted by the CPS, only 12 are known to be cases of antisemitic hate crime.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is represented pro bono by Stephen Gilchrist (solicitor) and Jonathan Goldberg QC, Jeffrey Israel and Senghin Kong (leading and junior counsel).

After we initiated our private prosecution, the CPS decided to go ahead with other cases against Alison Chabloz which had been awaiting a decision by the CPS for a year.

Antisemitism in the United Kingdom is reaching a tipping point. Incitement against Jews online is now translating into violent attacks on Jews. Our research shows that a growing percentage of British Jews are having thoughts about leaving the country and we cannot let that happen. We have called for zero tolerance enforcement of the law against antisemitism and that is what politicians have promised, but the Crown Prosecution Service has failed to take action, so now we must act instead.

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Burglary suspects continue shouting antisemitic abuse at Shomrim as they are loaded into police van

A man and a woman have been arrested after allegedly shouting antisemitic abuse at volunteers from Stamford Hill Shomrim who suspected them of involvement in burglaries.

Volunteers from Stamford Hill Shomrim were on a routine foot patrol when they noticed a man and a woman whom they suspected might be linked to a spate of recent burglaries. The Shomrim volunteers immediately called the Metropolitan Police Service, which arrested the pair.

During the arrest, the man allegedly looked at the Shomrim volunteers, who are charedi Jews, and said: “Funny-looking f***ers” at which point the police officers warned him that he would be committing a criminal offence if he continued. He allegedly then shouted: “Shame Hitler didn’t finish the job, Heil Hitler, Heil Hitler, Allahu Akbar” and the woman added: “F***ing Jewish c***” as they were loaded into a police van.

They were both arrested on suspicion of involvement in two attempted burglaries, and additionally for their antisemitic abuse.

We commend Stamford Hill Shomrim for their valuable work on behalf of all residents of the area, and we applaud the officers involved for their firm stance against antisemitism.

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“Traumatised” Scottish Rabbi tells MSPs of antisemitic assault in front of his children

A senior Scottish Rabbi has told MSPs at a meeting in the Scottish Parliament about an antisemitic attack on him in front of his family last month.

Rabbi Yossi Bodenheim,  the Jewish Chaplain for Scottish Universities, said that the incident occurred near the Scottish Parliament last month, when we was walking with his wife and children.

He said: “My wife and I took our four young children for a walk in this beautiful city. However, as we were walking, a woman pushed my wife aside, grabbed my kippah [Jewish skullcap], threw it on the ground and ran away. That took place less than a mile from here, in front of my young children. You can imagine how distressed they were.”

Nicola Livingston, Chair of the Jewish Student Chaplaincy Scotland, added: “I know the family were quite traumatised, it’s quite a difficult thing to speak about publicly, you don’t want to be seen as too vulnerable. The Scottish Government needs to condemn such incidents when they happen.”

Moving on to speak about antisemitism on Scottish campuses, Rabbi Bodenheim said: “Chessed is kindness, empathy and support for others. That hatred is the very opposite of chessed. As Scotland’s Jewish student chaplain, my role is to bring chessed to Jewish students and to make sure that they are comfortable on campus, whether it is ensuring their welfare, providing social and educational events, or just being a listening ear. I also have to help them cope with antisemitism, because unfortunately it is an issue on campus as well.”

In the past year, reports from Scotland have shown antisemitism gathering pace. One report found that  it was becoming relatively common for Scotland’s 5,887 Jews to keep their Judaism secret, and that many of the 400 Israelis living in Scotland hide their nationality and do not speak Hebrew in public. Noting that a growing number of Scottish Jews could name nothing positive about being a Jew in Scotland, the study reported that some Scottish Jews were considering leaving Scotland due to rising antisemitism. Some respondents told researchers that they had stopped attending synagogue services due to fear of antisemitism, were the victims of antisemitic jokes or social media posts and felt victimised for being Jewish. Jewish students in particular have reported a rise in antisemitism and statistics from Police Scotland have shown that Scottish Jews are bearing the brunt of racism online.

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Joshua Bonehill-Paine sentenced to an additional two years in prison for antisemitic harassment

Neo-Nazi Joshua Bonehill-Paine has been sentenced to an additional two years in prison for the racially-aggravated harassment of Jewish MP Luciana Berger. The two-year sentence is the maximum that Mr Justice Spencer was permitted to hand him. Yesterday Bonehill-Paine was unanimously convicted by a jury under Section 32 (1)(a) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998. He is already serving a three year and four month sentence for trying to incite antisemitic demonstrations against the “Jewification” of parts of London, has been tried over the racially-aggravated harassment of Jewish MP Luciana Berger.

He will now remain in prison until at least April 2018, when he becomes eligible for release on licence.

Sentencing Bonehill-Paine, Mr Justice Spencer said: “In my judgment it is difficult to envisage a worse case than this of racially aggravated harassment of this kind…The message needs to go out loud and clear that racial hate crime, where the intention is to harass the victim, will be dealt with very severely, and deterrence must be an important element of the sentence…Joshua Bonehill-Paine, for this offence of racially aggravated harassment I sentence you to 2 years imprisonment. That sentence will run consecutively to the sentence you are currently serving.”

Joshua Bonehill-Paine conducted a vile campaign of harassment against Luciana Berger based exclusively on the fact that she is Jewish. In so doing, he abused her with many well-worn antisemitic tropes that have been employed across centuries to justify the persecution of Jews. These included the Jew as Christ killer, the Jew as sexually deviant, the Jew as vermin and the Jew as a grasping money-grabber. This verdict should stand as a warning to those currently riding the wave of resurgent antisemitism that this kind of hateful behaviour is criminal, and that it will be severely dealt with by the law.

The court found that Bonehill-Paine wrote five articles written between October 2014 and January 2015 in response to the jailing of neo-Nazi, Garron Helm. Helm had been convicted for tweeting a picture of Ms Berger with a yellow star superimposed onto her forehead, a reference to the Nazi practice of forcing Jews to wear distinctive yellow stars. Referring to the MP as “a communist Jewess”, the tweet bore the message “You can always trust a Jew to show their true colours eventually” along with the hashtag #HitlerWasRight. Though Helm pleaded guilty at his trial, Bonehill-Paine held Ms Berger to be responsible for his imprisonment, and believed that she should be targeted for this.

Prosecutor Philip Stott had told the court that Bonehill-Paine began his campaign of harassment with five articles with the headlines:

  • “Racist Anti-White Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger Exposed”
  • “Is the Labour Party a Jewish Party?”
  • “ZOG [Zionist Occupied Government] attacks The Daily Stormer in relation to successful Berger campaign”
  • “Joshua Bonehill: on the eve of battle”
  • “The Legacy of Operation Filthy Jew bitch”

All of the articles were published on two websites run by Bonehill-Paine and described Ms Berger as “a rodent”, an “evil money-grabber”, “a dominatrix”, and “responsible for the death of Jesus”. The articles also included photographs of Ms Berger’s face superimposed onto a rat, Ms Berger being spanked by Ed Milliband, Ms Berger cradling a baby bearing the head of Chukka Umana (she had recently given birth), and a sexually explicit picture which we will not describe here. One of the articles supported a campaign by The Daily Stormer which urged its readers to “Call her a Jew, call her a Jew communist, call her a terrorist, call her a filthy Jew bitch. Call her a hook-nosed yid and a ratfaced kike. Tell her we do not want her in the UK, we do not want her or any other Jew anywhere in Europe. Tell her to go to Israel and call for her deportation to said Jew state.” Three videos of Bonehill-Paine expounding on his ideas were also played to the jury, including one entitled “The Jewification of Great Britain”.

Mr Stott said that “Both the language and imagery deployed in these articles are strongly offensive” and told the jury that Bonehill-Paine claims the comments in the articles are reasonable and fall within the right to free speech. He said that the articles would have caused alarm to the Jewish community in general and to Ms Berger in particular.

Bonehill-Paine’s barrister, James Palfrey stated that his client did not mean his comments to be taken literally, and that they were “a puerile attempt at satire”. Mr Palfrey told Ms Berger that nobody would take seriously the claim that she had killed Jesus, or would believe that any of the images were really of her. He also told Ms Berger that she was not the intended audience for the articles.

Giving evidence, Ms Berger stated that the articles had left her “troubled and concerned” and “sickened”. The “military language” used by Bonehill-Paine and the encouragement of others to become involved in the campaign of harassment had left her more concerned for her personal safety than she had ever been since her election. She told the court that the articles had resulted in the implementation of safety measures.

In one farcical moment, Mr Palfrey, told the court that his client would not be giving evidence, to which Bonehill-Paine shouted from the dock that he would. In the event he did not testify, and Mr Stott told the court that he had failed to give evidence because he “can’t defend the indefensible”. Even Bonehill-Paine’s barrister agreed that he was simply a narcissist after recognition. Bonehill-Paine’s evidence would have been unlikely to sway the decision, as the case largely relied on archived web pages and videos, and the records from a laptop which police found hidden behind a board in Bonehill-Paine’s kitchen.

Ultimately, Bonehill-Paine stood little chance, damned by his own hand.

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Joshua Bonehill-Paine convicted again of antisemitic harassment, extending his sentence

For the past three days, Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a neo-Nazi who is already serving a three year and four month sentence for trying to incite antisemitic demonstrations against the “Jewification” of parts of London, has been tried over the racially-aggravated harassment of Jewish MP Luciana Berger.

Today he was convicted by a jury of racially-aggravated harassment under Section 32 (1)(a) of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Joshua Bonehill-Paine conducted a vile campaign of harassment against Luciana Berger based exclusively on the fact that she is Jewish. In so doing, he abused her with many well-worn antisemitic tropes that have been employed across centuries to justify the persecution of Jews. These included the Jew as Christ killer, the Jew as sexually deviant, the Jew as vermin and the Jew as a grasping money-grabber. This verdict should stand as a warning to those currently riding the wave of resurgent antisemitism that this kind of hateful behaviour is criminal, and that it will be severely dealt with by the law.

The court found that Bonehill-Paine wrote five articles written between October 2014 and January 2015 in response to the jailing of neo-Nazi, Garron Helm. Helm had been convicted for tweeting a picture of Ms Berger with a yellow star superimposed onto her forehead, a reference to the Nazi practice of forcing Jews to wear distinctive yellow stars. Referring to the MP as “a communist Jewess”, the tweet bore the message “You can always trust a Jew to show their true colours eventually” along with the hashtag #HitlerWasRight. Though Helm pleaded guilty at his trial, Bonehill-Paine held Ms Berger to be responsible for his imprisonment, and believed that she should be targeted for this.

Prosecutor Philip Stott had told the court that Bonehill-Paine began his campaign of harassment with five articles with the headlines:

  • “Racist Anti-White Jewish Labour MP Luciana Berger Exposed”
  • “Is the Labour Party a Jewish Party?”
  • “ZOG [Zionist Occupied Government] attacks The Daily Stormer in relation to successful Berger campaign”
  • “Joshua Bonehill: on the eve of battle”
  • “The Legacy of Operation Filthy Jew bitch”

All of the articles were published on two websites run by Bonehill-Paine and described Ms Berger as “a rodent”, an “evil money-grabber”, “a dominatrix”, and “responsible for the death of Jesus”. The articles also included photographs of Ms Berger’s face superimposed onto a rat, Ms Berger being spanked by Ed Milliband, Ms Berger cradling a baby bearing the head of Chukka Umana (she had recently given birth), and a sexually explicit picture which we will not describe here. One of the articles supported a campaign by The Daily Stormer which urged its readers to “Call her a Jew, call her a Jew communist, call her a terrorist, call her a filthy Jew bitch. Call her a hook-nosed yid and a ratfaced kike. Tell her we do not want her in the UK, we do not want her or any other Jew anywhere in Europe. Tell her to go to Israel and call for her deportation to said Jew state.” Three videos of Bonehill-Paine expounding on his ideas were also played to the jury, including one entitled “The Jewification of Great Britain”.

Mr Stott said that “Both the language and imagery deployed in these articles are strongly offensive” and told the jury that Bonehill-Paine claims the comments in the articles are reasonable and fall within the right to free speech. He said that the articles would have caused alarm to the Jewish community in general and to Ms Berger in particular.

Bonehill-Paine’s barrister, James Palfrey stated that his client did not mean his comments to be taken literally, and that they were “a puerile attempt at satire”. Mr Palfrey told Ms Berger that nobody would take seriously the claim that she had killed Jesus, or would believe that any of the images were really of her. He also told Ms Berger that she was not the intended audience for the articles.

Giving evidence, Ms Berger stated that the articles had left her “troubled and concerned” and “sickened”. The “military language” used by Bonehill-Paine and the encouragement of others to become involved in the campaign of harassment had left her more concerned for her personal safety than she had ever been since her election. She told the court that the articles had resulted in the implementation of safety measures.

In one farcical moment, Mr Palfrey, told the court that his client would not be giving evidence, to which Bonehill-Paine shouted from the dock that he would. In the event he did not testify, and Mr Stott told the court that he had failed to give evidence because he “can’t defend the indefensible”. Even Bonehill-Paine’s barrister agreed that he was simply a narcissist after recognition. Bonehill-Paine’s evidence would have been unlikely to sway the decision, as the case largely relied on archived web pages and videos, and the records from a laptop which police found hidden behind a board in Bonehill-Paine’s kitchen.

Ultimately, Bonehill-Paine stood little chance, damned by his own hand.

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National Action’s payment processor freezes their account after CAA speaks out

Payment processing firm Liberapay has frozen the account of neo-Nazi group National Action and promised to close it down after Campaign Against Antisemitism called for the company to “do the right thing”.

In an interview about National Action, Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Director of Investigations and Enforcement, Stephen Silverman, told Byline Magazine’s Colin Cortbus: “The online donations platform, Liberapay has already refused to handle transactions for neo-Nazi news hub, The Daily Stormer. By continuing to process donations for National Action, it is enabling that group’s incitement of violence against the UK’s Jewish community. If National Action is proscribed under the Terrorism Act as we expect, Liberapay could soon find themselves on the wrong side of terrorism legislation. It’s not too late to do the right thing voluntarily.”

When Cortbus contacted Liberapay and its payment enabler, Mangopay, for comment, Mangopay decided to cease all transactions, leaving Liberapy to freeze and close down National Action’s accounts. Liberapay told Cortbus that it had not actually transferred donated funds to National Action yet, and would be returning donations to the donors rather than sending them to the neo-Nazi group.

We commend Liberapay and Mangopay for their action. Payment providers should not be enabling this growing neo-Nazi group to raise funds.

National Action radicalises and indoctrinates the young, teaches them violence, attacks the police and the public and demands a new Holocaust. Many of its activities are already criminal, but its members are not being prosecuted.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has asked the Home Secretary to proscribe National Action under section 3(3)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2000, which would instantly render it a criminal offence to recruit for, be a member of, raise money for or in any way support National Action.

Last week, we released a video about National Action, and called on supporters to sign a petition adding their voices to our call for National Action to be proscribed.

 

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Troubling survey says more British Muslims blame Jews for 9/11 than Al Qaeda

A troubling new survey commissioned by the Policy Exchange think tank says that more British Muslims blame Jews for the 9/11 terrorist attacks than blame terrorists from Al Qaeda. The research, carried out by polling company ICM, claims that only 4% of British Muslims believe that Al Qaeda was responsible for the 9/11 atrocities, whereas 7% believe that “Jews” were to blame (52% of British Muslims said they did not know who conducted the attacks, and 31% thought the American government was behind the attacks).

The results are in sharp contrast with the beliefs of the general British population, 71% of which blames Al Qaeda and only 1% of which blames Jews (10% attributed the attacks to the American government and 16% did not know who did it).

The foreword to the report by Khalid Mahmood MP, noted: “So many British Muslims seem ready to entertain wild and outlandish conspiracy theories about the way the world works, believing that dark forces are at work to ‘do us down’ as Muslims. From the attacks of 9/11, down to the more recent conflict in Syria, too many people seem ready to believe that these events are being deliberately organised and manipulated — whether by the American Government, Jews, or some other force – with the express intention of damaging Muslims.”

The report pointed out that conspiracy theories were part of the “extremist worldview”. Focus groups carried out by ICM gave one reason for blaming Jews as being “the widely circulated, fraudulent claim that several thousand Jews failed to turn up for work on 11 September 2001, a sign that they had foreknowledge of the attack — and were therefore implicated in the crime.”

In April this year, Campaign Against Antisemitism’s analysis of ICM data produced for Channel 4 and Juniper Television showed that antisemitism is far more prevalent amongst British Muslims than amongst the rest of the British population.

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Arrest made after National Action tries to declare parts of Liverpool “Nazi controlled zone”, proscription impending

Merseyside Police have announced that they have arrested a 29-year-old man following an investigation into neo-Nazi signs found on lampposts and street signs in south Liverpool and Knowsley. The man, who is from the Childwall area, was arrested yesterday on suspicion of possession of racially inflammatory material which is intended or likely to stir up racial hatred and publishing or distributing written material which may stir up racial hatred. The man is currently in custody and will be interviewed by officers today. The maximum sentence for such crimes is 7 years’ imprisonment.

The stickers were placed on lampposts, doors and pelican crossings around Aigburth and other parts of south Liverpool and Knowsley on Remembrance Sunday last month. The stickers were branded by National Action, the violent neo-Nazi group and absurdly declared parts of Liverpool a “Nazi controlled zone”. Thames Valley Police has also confirmed that it is investigating an incident in which National Action has tried to claim territory after National Action stickers were been found declaring parts of Newbury to be a “White zone”, with a drawing of a man with his face covered making a Nazi salute.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has asked the Home Secretary to proscribe National Action under section 3(3)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2000, which would instantly render it a criminal offence to recruit for, be a member of or in any way support National Action.

National Action is a growing neo-Nazi group in Britain. It radicalises and indoctrinates the young, teaches them violence, attacks the police and the public and demands a new Holocaust. Many of its activities are already criminal, but its members are not being prosecuted. Earlier this week, Campaign Against Antisemitism released a video about National Action, and called on supporters to sign a petition adding their voices to Campaign Against Antisemitism’s call for National Action to be proscribed.

There are now positive signs that proscription is nearing for this violent neo-Nazi organisation. If you have not already done so, please show your support by signing our petition and calling on your friends to do so too.

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Proscription nears for National Action as they declare Newbury a “White zone”

For the second time in a month, violent neo-Nazi group National Action has tried to claim territory. Last month, National Action absurdly declared parts of Liverpool a “Nazi controlled zone”. Now, National Action stickers have been found declaring parts of Newbury to be a “White zone”, with a drawing of a man with his face covered making a Nazi salute.

In a statement, Sergeant Holly Nicholls, of Newbury Police Station, said “Thames Valley Police has received a complaint from a member of the public. The offensive nature of the ‘white zone’ posters, in addition to the fact that they were fly-posted, led to the removal of the posters. If you witnessed anyone hanging these posters, see any posters of concern, or have information that will help our investigation, please call Thames Valley Police on 101 citing reference number 43160334514.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has asked the Home Secretary to proscribe National Action under section 3(3)(a) of the Terrorism Act 2000, which would instantly render it a criminal offence to recruit for, be a member of or in any way support National Action.

National Action is a growing neo-Nazi group in Britain. It radicalises and indoctrinates the young, teaches them violence, attacks the police and the public and demands a new Holocaust. Many of its activities are already criminal, but its members are not being prosecuted. Earlier this week, Campaign Against Antisemitism released a video about National Action, and called on supporters to sign a petition adding their voices to Campaign Against Antisemitism’s call for National Action to be proscribed.

There are now positive signs that proscription is nearing for this violent neo-Nazi organisation. If you have not already done so, please show your support by signing our petition and calling on your friends to do so too.

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Vegan protesters raid and deface kosher slaughterhouse, accuse Jews of committing a “Kosher Holocaust”

Animal rights activists calling themselves the “East London Chicken Save” have accused non-vegan Jews of perpetrating a “Kosher Holocaust”, storming a kosher slaughterhouse and daubing it and the road outside with graffiti including “Stop the Holocaust” and “Kosher Holocaust” along with a Star of David.

Following an initial peaceful protest at the Kedassia abattoir in Hackney Wick, the activists returned, forcing their way through the gate and shouting “F***ing bastards” at the staff, who they accused of “helping to kill babies”.

Accusing Jews of perpetrating a Holocaust is hateful and offensive. Six million Jewish men, women and children were brutally murdered by the Nazis. The kosher food industry slaughters less than 0.2% of the 760 million chickens killed in the UK each year. The targeting of a kosher slaughterhouse along with the use of this outrageous language gives reason for serious concerns about the motivations of these activists.

chicken-save-2

https://youtube.com/watch?v=oCzCc06E7v8

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Graffiti in Aberdeen ahead of Shalom Festival depicts Jews as demonic and a menace to society

Antisemitic graffiti was found in Aberdeen on Viewfield Road opposite Gordon Highlanders, close to the venue of the Shalom Festival which celebrates Israeli culture.

The graffiti shows as Star of David and the number 666, described as the “number of the beast” in the Textus Receptus manuscripts of the Christian bible’s Book of Revelation. Alongside the graffiti is the shorthand “M2S” which is sometimes used to mean “Menace to society”.

The police have been informed and Aberdeen City Council has removed the graffiti.

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Antisemitic graffiti shocks journalist walking in Southwick

Antisemitic graffiti has been found in Southwick in West Sussex. Journalist James Lillywhite came across the graffiti and tweeted: “It takes a lot to shock me, but this extremely racist and antisemitic graffiti in #Southwick is very offensive and worrying”.

The graffiti feature a caricature of a Jew with a huge nose, says that “[Jews] did 9/11” and “Jews r evill [sic]”. The graffiti is accompanied by what appears to be “Odin’s Cross”, a white supremacist symbol.

Mr Lillywhite has contacted Sussex Police and the local Council so that the incident can be investigated and the graffiti can be removed.

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CAA commends Sussex Police for correcting mishandled complaint

Campaign Against Antisemitism has commended Sussex Police for correcting a mishandled complaint which we reported to the force.

Mr Lev Eakins, a Sussex resident, believed that a recent letter by Baroness Tonge had crossed the threshold of criminal incitement. Within hours of making his report to Sussex Police, he received an e-mail from a contact handler stating that the messages were “pro Jews, not anti-Jews as you suggest.”

In addition to displaying a disappointing level of ignorance as to the nature of post-Holocaust antisemitism, the officer had failed to apply the Macpherson Principle, as recommended in the findings from the Stephen Lawrence inquiry. This requires police forces to treat incidents as racist if the incident “is perceived to be racist by the victim or any other person.” All of the UK’s police forces have adopted the Macpherson principle.

After being contacted by Campaign Against Antisemitism, Sussex Police swiftly launched an investigation into the incident, which resulted in appropriate disciplinary action, education and a reaffirmation of the importance of the Macpherson principle when dealing with complaints of racial hatred.

All too often, the general public encounters resistance when reporting antisemitic incidents to the authorities. It is gratifying to see that Sussex Police takes these matters seriously, and that it is committed to ensuring its officers are equipped to respond appropriately.

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American academic receives antisemitic postcard from Britain demanding “Juden raus!”

A professor at Harvard Law School has received an antisemitic postcard sent from the UK.

The full details of the postcard’s message have been masked, but the sender addresses Professor Sanford Levinson by name and the message is clear: “Sandy,  You just got your like ass kicked. F*** you Hymie. We’re gonna drain the swamp at Harvard Law. Juden raus!”

The Nazi demand of “Juden raus!” means “Jews out!” and was also the name of a children’s board game, the goal of which was to round up Jews and place them at a “collection point”. The phrase “Drain the swamp” was used by supporters of Donald Trump during the presidential campaign as a shorthand for purging politics of corruption and corporate interests. “Hymie” is a Jewish name sometimes used by antisemites as a jibe.

Professor Levinson told the Boston Globe: “It certainly is as hostile as it could be…This is a level of antisemitic hostility that I have not seen before.”

We are seeking to recruit a General Counsel a Creative Communications and Events Officer a Communications and Research Manager an Education and Outreach Intern to join our London office

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Campaign Against Antisemitism is a volunteer-led charity dedicated to exposing and countering antisemitism through education and zero-tolerance enforcement of the law. Everything that we do is done by people who volunteer their time, using donations contributed by members of the public. Join the fight against antisemitism by subscribing to our updates, volunteering, or donating.