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Former barrister Ian Millard found guilty of five communications offences after seven years of action by CAA

Following action from Campaign Against Antisemitism, the former barrister Ian Millard was convicted on Friday at Southampton Magistrates’ Court of five offences contrary to section 127(1)(a) Communications Act 2003 in relation to the posting of grossly offensive material relating to his assertions regarding the Jewish race on his blog.

However, Mr Millard was only prosecuted following seven years of work by Campaign Against Antisemitism, due to a reluctance to prosecute from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

The charges relate to five blog entries dated between May 2021 and April 2022. Mr Millard posted the entries to his website.

In one post on 10th May 2021, Mr Millard wrote: “Where Jews exist in any but very small numbers, non-Jews will always be exploited, and can never be free. That is as true in Europe (and including the UK) as it is in the Middle East.”

On 15th May 2021, Mr Millard wrote: “I lived on and off in the USA, mostly in the early 1990s though I did also spend time there in 1999, 2001 and 2002. Many Americans are fine people, but the mass media there is almost, not quite, 100% owned and operated by Jews. TV, radio, film, newspapers, magazines, book publishing. Americans have little choice but to see the world largely through the Jewish, Zionist, and Israeli lens. Fact. They are also brainwashed from childhood with ‘holocaust’ propaganda and fake history.”

In another, dated 20th November 2021, Mr Millard posted an image of an arm — which had a Star of David emblazoned on the sleeve — holding a hammer above a computer with the words “free speech” on it. Above the image, text read: “Wherever Jews have power, non-Jews eventually become victims or slaves. Look at history. The ridiculous thing is that, in the UK, many of those who oppose Jewish supremacism in Israel or occupied Palestine, effectively support the Jewish lobby in Europe, eg in the UK itself; they pay lip-service to the ‘holocaust farrago’, in particular, and applaud the Zionist efforts to destroy free speech.” 

Defending himself in court, Mr Millard admitted to ownership and editorial control of the blog, but did not admit to posting the offending posts. He did, however, state that he agreed with all the sentiments expressed in the posts. 

During the course of his time on the stand, Mr Millard attempted to portray himself as the victim of a Jewish plot to crush free speech, telling the court that the CPS had been able to highlight only five blog posts out of more than 1,600 that he had published. A cursory glance at his blog reveals that it is strewn throughout with antisemitic conspiracy theories and imagery glorifying Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime. 

He went on to brag about how he had visitors to his blog from all over the world. 

When confronted with the opinions expressed in his posts, he maintained that they were “perfectly acceptable”.

Attempting to defend his Holocaust-denial, he said: “There’s history and there are views of history and people are entitled to adopt whichever view they want.”

He further professed that there were “a great number of hoaxes” around the Holocaust, going on to lament: “It’s the only history that’s acceptable and I disagree with that.”

Mr Millard told the court that “Jewish control of media is pervasive.” 

He also made the claim that British politics is controlled by Zionists, citing as evidence of this the fact that the Star of David — the flag of Israel — had been projected onto 10 Downing Street as a display of solidarity with the Israeli public following the 7th October Hamas terror attacks.

Parroting the far-right antisemitic Great Replacement conspiracy theory, he asserted during his cross-examination that “They [Jews] are trying to get more immigrants into the country and the truth is coming out.” 

While insisting that he could not recall if he had written any of the posts, owing to the fact that he allegedly blogs daily, he also said: “It’s not about whether I’m right or wrong. It’s about freedom of expression.”

He maintained that he had never set out with an intent to offend and that while some of the posts were “shocking”, they were not against the law and in fact merely satirical. 

CPS Prosecutor Philip Allman noted that the offending was “at the high end of culpability”, while Judge Peter Greenfield condemned the posts as “Grossly offensive to Jews and a multiracial society.”

“This is antisemitic…it’s Holocaust-denial, and therefore it is grossly offensive,” Judge Greenfield said. 

While Campaign Against Antisemitism is pleased that justice has finally been delivered, the road to it was made less easy resulting from repeated setbacks by the CPS.

In October 2016, the Bar Standards Board found Mr Millard to be guilty of professional misconduct due to his extensive use of Twitter as a vehicle to publicise his antisemitic and extreme right-wing views, leading to him being banned from the profession. Following the hearing, Campaign Against Antisemitism carried out a detailed investigation of Millard’s Twitter account. It was found that over a lengthy period he had tweeted a large quantity of opinions and images that were virulently antisemitic and promoted Nazi ideology.

In November of that year, Campaign Against Antisemitism reported Mr Millard to Essex Police, providing a substantial dossier of evidence in support of the complaint and by the following May, the police sent a file to the CPS, recommending that Mr Millard be charged with inciting racial hatred. 

Seventeen months later, in October 2018, the CPS instructed the police to obtain Mr Millard’s Twitter account in its entirety, rather than just the antisemitic tweets that were included in the complaint. By this time, his account had been terminated by Twitter, and he had transferred his social media activities to Gab — a US-based platform used heavily by the far-right and which has a policy of non-cooperation with requests for information about its users. Given that it was now impossible for the police to provide the evidence requested by the CPS, the investigation was closed. 

By this point, Mr Millard had subsequently turned his attention to his personal blog. In April 2021, based on the content of the blog, Campaign Against Antisemitism, for the second time, handed a dossier of evidence collected from Mr Millard’s blog to Hampshire Police.

However, nine months later, we were informed that the CPS would be taking no further action, citing “evidential difficulties which have arisen which present a conflict of evidence.” 

In January 2022, we challenged this decision via the Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) scheme. Six months later, Lord Austin, an Honorary Patron of Campaign Against Antisemitism, wrote to the Director of Public Prosecutions about the matter and subsequently received a reply stating that our VRR submission was being taken seriously and had been handed to counter-terrorism police, which had requested further evidence from the police.

In April of this year, fifteen months after the VRR submission, we were informed that the CPS intended to prosecute Mr Millard.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “We are pleased that, after seven years, Ian Millard has finally been found guilty of these crimes. Holocaust-denial and antisemitic conspiracy theories have no place in decent British society. British Jews are under assault from antisemites in real life and online, and the fact that a former barrister could commit acts of anti-Jewish racism is utterly abhorrent. 

“It is lamentable that, not for the first time, the CPS initially tried to avoid prosecuting and then dragged its feet after we brought criminal antisemitic behaviour to its attention. What hope are Jewish people in this country supposed to have if the CPS refuses to prosecute individuals spewing antisemitic bile? Justice has been served, albeit much later than it should have been. The reluctance of the CPS in prosecuting individuals like Mr Millard sadly just reinforces the importance of our work.”

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It Is Time For Our Voice To Be Heard. Please Join Us.

It is time for our voice to be heard. Please join us.

Week after week, London has become a no-go zone for Jews. But not only London. Rallies featuring antisemitic rhetoric have been held throughout the country over the past weeks, and this weekend the demonstrators doubled down on that strategy, launching micro rallies across the UK.

As you know, the police have refused to heed our calls to impose conditions on these weekly marches or ban them altogether, notwithstanding their obvious inability to police demonstrations that feature criminality on such a scale.

Our Demonstration and Event Monitoring Unit has helped to document and expose, week after the week, the hatred and glorification of terrorism at these rallies, including among the rank and file protesters.

Still, we believe that much of our country is with us, and next weekend it is time for us — the Jewish community and its allies — to finally have our voice heard.

That is why we are marching together in solidarity against antisemitism on Sunday 26th November, at 13:30 in central London.

Thousands of you have signed up already for updates about the route. If you have not yet done so, please register.

Among those friends backing the march are the stalwart allies of the Jewish community behind the October Declaration. We are proud to have friends like these, who are not afraid to call out antisemitism, speak up for the truth and love our country. You can read more about them, and sign the October Declaration on their website.

Meanwhile, this week has seen protests in London that target the MPs who make our laws. On Wednesday, Parliament was surrounded. Yesterday, they took the fight to MPs’ offices. Rule of law or mob rule? Watch and decide.

The hostages

Antisemitism in the UK is of course bound up with Hamas’ war on Israel, and we have been at the forefront of raising awareness in the UK about the plight of the Hamas’ hostages since the start of the war. You may recall that, last month, while failing to take action against demonstrators, the police nonetheless insisted on shutting down our van displaying the images of child hostages. Since then, we struggled to find other billboard van companies willing to work with us, for fear of police action.

So we bought our own van.

Thanks to generous donors, the images of the children are now back on our streets.

Although the police, along with demonstrators who hate to be reminded of the antisemitic evil of Hamas, have again attempted to shut the van down, this time we refused to acquiesce in the trampling of our rights, and we continued on our way. We will remember the hostages, and we will not be silenced. #BringThemHome

Broadcasters must call Hamas terrorists

We have all been appalled by the BBC’s refusal to call Hamas “terrorists”. And the BBC is not alone among broadcasters in, deliberately or otherwise, sanitising the terror group by having described Hamas’ murderous members by other descriptors, such as “militants”.

This weekend we are, therefore, launching a Parliamentary Petition calling for terrorism legislation to be amended to require all broadcasters regulated by Ofcom to describe all terrorist organisations proscribed in the UK and their operatives as “terrorists” and not by any other descriptor, which does not make their terrorist nature clear.

Unlike other petitions, if 10,000 people sign a Parliamentary Petition, the Government will issue a response, and if 100,000 people sign it, the topic will be considered for debate in Parliament. Please help us to right this wrong and urge lawmakers to act to ensure that television and radio audiences get the real facts in the news that they consume.

After suffering through weeks of hateful demonstrations that have taken over our capital and other cites across the country, it is time for our voice to be heard. Next weekend, please join us.



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Enough is enough: The police must act

Yesterday, for the third week in a row, central London was turned into a no-go zone. 100,000 people coursed through the centre of our capital. Last week they called for jihad, this week they called for a violent intifada, shouting “From London to Gaza we’ll have an intifada.”

Past intifadas were campaigns of violence, including suicide bombings. We do not want one in London. The law cannot be enforced in crowds as huge as the ones we are seeing. There is mass criminality on the streets of London.

That is why we are demanding that Sir Mark Rowley, Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, uses his powers under section 12 of the Public Order Act 1986 to bring this situation under control.

Section 12 powers allow the police to limit the size and duration of marches if they pose a serious risk. So far, Sir Mark has only opted to limit the route and the wearing of masks, but even that has not been enforced.

Londoners, including British Jews, are afraid to enter central London during these marches because there are people on the marches openly engaging in support for terrorism, extremist chanting, and incitement to religious hatred.

Police officers are outnumbered 100 to 1, and have even been hospitalised.

Sir Mark must use his section 12 powers to limit these marches to instead be static protests of no more than 20,000 people in a location such as Trafalgar Square, with sufficient police numbers to enforce the conditions without putting brave officers and Londoners in danger.

Enough is enough. Together we are calling on Sir Mark to make this the last week that masked extremists control our streets. Sign the petition now.

The situation is particularly severe because over the past three weeks, the Met has documented an unprecedented 1,350% surge in antisemitic hate crimes, and greeted it with lax policing, too few arrests, and excuses on social media — all to the incredulity of the Jewish community, the mainstream media and the Government.

As Jews, we are enormously grateful to the police for protecting our Jewish community and for keeping our cities safe. But over this recent period, our cities have felt less and less safe for Jews – and for many of our fellow citizens.

It adds insult to injury when the police take so little action against offenders spewing racist hate but still find the time to stop our digital vans from displaying the faces of children taken captive by Hamas, to raise awareness of their plight, from driving around London.

We therefore gathered on Wednesday outside New Scotland Yard to show the depth of feeling and call for the police to take action. Along with speakers including Lord Ian Austin, an Honorary Patron of CAA, the leader of Christian Action Against Antisemitism, and the Israeli author and activist Hen Mazzig, so many of you joined us and had your voice heard. We came as friends of the police, to ask the police to uphold the law. We need to see arrests, not excuses.

The next day, the Home Secretary chaired a meeting with us and other representatives of the Jewish community. Whilst we cannot reveal what was discussed, we can confirm that our focus remained on ensuring that arrests and prosecutions materialise, and that the Met use their section 12 powers.

Londoners cannot and will not tolerate a situation in which every weekend the streets become an exhibition of such extremism. The Met is creating the conditions in which not only London’s Jews but all Londoners could be placed in serious danger. Extremists rarely limit themselves to extreme language. We need action by the authorities responsible for keeping Britain safe.

The media

We continue to call out media outlets for their incorrect and inflammatory coverage, and we are among those at the forefront of the campaign to pressure the BBC to report accurately and impartially, including by calling Hamas what they are: terrorists. If you wish to join the tens of thousands who have signed the petition, please add your name.

It is time for the BBC to hear the strength of feeling directly from the Jewish community and to justify its appalling coverage. Courtesy of CAA, for the first time, a member of the BBC’s Executive Committee will be speaking at an open event for the Jewish community, and you are invited. To reserve tickets, please visit antisemitism.org/bbc.

Enough is enough: The police must act to defend the Jewish community against those who want to harm us, before it is too late.

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The police must uphold the law, but they need to hear it from you

Since last weekend, we have been leading a campaign to raise awareness of the plight of the hostages held by Hamas, including through billboards and digital vans that travel around London displaying the images of some of the child captives. We have also taken action against those who tear down or deface the leaflets and posters that have been put up around the city.

We expected that there may be pockets of opposition to the vans from terrorist-sympathisers and their fellow travellers in London. What we did not anticipate was opposition from the Metropolitan Police Service.

For the full story of this outrageous incident, join the millions who have watched our Chief Executive recount the episode, which was also covered across the national media.

Since the incident, we have engaged with the Metropolitan Police — in addition to our work with the Government — but the outcomes with the police have been unsatisfactory. This adds to our disappointment with current policing policy. It is time to take action.

The volunteers of our Demonstration and Event Monitoring Unit continue to gather evidence from the demonstrations around the country, bearing witness to the Metropolitan Police’s own findings that antisemitic hate crime in London is up by a scandalous 1,350%.

Instead of arrests, however, the Met has been making excuses for hate. The force permitted a rally by Hizb ut-Tahrir to go ahead; it announced, contrary to the view of the Home Secretary, that the chant “From the River to the Sea Palestine will be free” is not hate speech unless it expressly targets a Jewish institution; and it ignores calls for “Jihad” and “Intifada” by demonstrators; among other shortcomings.

While failing to take action against those expressing sympathy for terrorists or calling for violence, as shown here, the Met did find the time to order that our vans shut down their display of the faces of children taken hostage by a proscribed terrorist group. The protesters hurling abuse at our volunteers, just feet from watching police officers, were not apprehended.

In 2014, Campaign Against Antisemitism was founded when the community witnessed that the authorities barely lifted a finger to combat antisemitism on our streets. We made our voices heard then outside the Royal Courts of Justice, but only towards the end of that surge in antisemitic incidents. This time, we must make our voices heard earlier, to shape how the Met polices our streets over the coming weeks.

We will be rallying outside New Scotland Yard this Wednesday at 18:30. The rally will be held at New Scotland Yard, London SW1A 2JL, and the nearest Underground stations are Westminster and Embankment.

The BBC

We have been among those at the forefront of the campaign to pressure the BBC to report accurately and impartially, including by calling Hamas what they are: terrorists.

The BBC must be made to understand that not only is it doing a disservice to viewers, listeners and readers by not reporting in accordance with its guidelines, but its coverage has a real-life, adverse impact on British Jews.

We co-sponsored a rally outside Broadcasting House, which was covered by all the major broadcasters and press, backed a petition signed by tens of thousands (please do sign if you haven’t already), physically projected a powerful message onto Broadcasting House itself to shame the BBC, and recorded a special episode of our podcast with Noah Abrahams, a courageous and principled young sports journalist who has quit the BBC in protest at its failure to describe Hamas as a terrorist organisation (listen now).

We also called out the BBC for referring to the recent Brussels attack as terrorism while refusing to do the same for Hamas. After its hypocrisy was exposed, rather than accept that it must finally describe Hamas as a terror group, the Corporation quietly and disgracefully changed its Brussels coverage instead.

The BBC is not the only media outlet that we have held to account in recent days. Among the most egregious was the satirical magazine Private Eye. Perhaps appropriately, our response to its appalling front cover involved satirising their unfunny attempt at satire.

We have also reviewed material and submitted complaints relating to other broadcasters and newspapers, and continue to do so.

It is time for the BBC to hear the strength of feeling directly from the Jewish community and to justify its appalling coverage. Courtesy of Campaign Against Antisemitism, for the first time, a member of the BBC’s Executive Committee will be speaking at an open event for the Jewish community, and you are invited. To book tickets, visit antisemitism.org/bbc.

We are fighting back. Now it is the turn of the police to rise to the occasion in these challenging times and uphold the law against those who want to harm the Jewish community.

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CAA is mobilising, and the fightback has begun

As we continue to process the news in Israel and pray for the swift rescue of the hostages, antisemitism is surging in the UK.

On our streets, on campuses and online, in our workplaces, schools and even in the playground, we are seeing the glorification of terrorism and antisemitic hate, and on our television screens our national broadcaster cannot bring itself to call terror by its name.

At Campaign Against Antisemitism, we have been mobilising. The fightback has begun.

The volunteers of our Demonstration and Event Monitoring Unit have gathered evidence from the demonstrations this weekend and over the past week. We have also heard from you in unprecedented numbers, receiving a constant flow of messages and tips. Our staff and volunteers have worked around the clock to monitor, document and process evidence, and we have referred a multitude of individuals and organisations to the police and regulatory authorities, and we continue to do so at a rapid pace. If they fail to act, we will hold them to account.

If you have information that you would like to share with us, please e-mail [email protected].

We have written to the BBC about its refusal to describe Hamas as “terrorists”, called for Ofcom to intervene, and led the national media campaign to pressure the broadcaster to call terror by its name. We have also requested that the Culture, Media and Sport Committee hold an urgent hearing, are promoting a petition and are co-sponsoring a rally on Monday evening outside the BBC’s Broadcasting House in London. To join the tens of thousands who have already signed the petition, please sign here.

We have also written to the FA and Premier League to express our disgust at the decision not to illuminate Wembley Stadium and to prohibit the waving of Israeli flags at matches this weekend.

We have launched a billboard campaign around London featuring the faces of infants and children taken hostage by Hamas, as part of a campaign to ensure that the public does not so quickly forget not only those murdered by the terrorists but also those still in their clutches.

It is a frightening prospect, but the same ideology that brought about the horrors in the south of Israel is present in the UK. Our fight here is part of the same war that our brethren are fighting in Israel: it is simply another front. We need the resources to fight back.

On top of it all, our regular work continues. In the past few days, for example, we secured the extradition of a fugitive French Holocaust-denier back to France, where he will now face the justice that he has evaded for too long.

As a volunteer-led organisation, our priority is manpower. This week, we have mobilised a huge number of new volunteers, to ensure that everybody who can play a part has the opportunity to do so. Thank you to the many of you who have stepped forward. To join them, please visit antisemitism.org/mobilise.

Still, we are a charity, and the surge in demand for our services means that we must raise funds to meet it. We must also prepare for what may come next: while the support from the Government and the authorities and the support that we are seeing for Israel and the Jewish community is welcome, history shows that it may be transient. We must have the resources in place now to ensure that their words translate into action over the weeks and months ahead.

To that end, we are launching an urgent crowdfunding appeal this week. We recognise that we are not the only worthy cause asking for your help at this time, and any support that you can contribute will go directly to the fight against those who mean harm to our people. To make a donation now, please visit antisemitism.org/donate.

This is the worst situation faced by Jews worldwide since 2014, when we were founded. As an organisation and as a community, we are incomparably better placed to wage it. But we need your help to do so.

Those who glorify terrorism and delight in the massacre of Jews, and those who use the events still unfolding as cover for antisemitic acts should be under no misapprehension: we will pursue justice against you.

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Success for CAA as Scottish court grants extradition for Holocaust-denier Vincent Reynouard

A court in Scotland has granted an extradition request for the convicted Holocaust-denier Vincent Reynouard, a French fugitive in the UK who was caught following appeals from Campaign Against Antisemitism.

Mr Reynouard, 54, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today for his extradition hearing, which followed several preliminary hearings and false starts over the past year, to allow time for the content of videos, alleged to have been made by Mr Reynouard, to be translated into English, as well as other delays due to ill health on his legal team.

Mr Reynouard continued to post updates on his far-right blog, Sans Concession, despite being incarcerated as he awaited his extradition hearing.

Today, the extradition request has been granted, as the court considered that the postings for which Mr Reynouard was found guilty in France would also be crimes in the UK under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.

In a different case in 2018, Campaign Against Antisemitism secured a legal precedent that Holocaust-denial is “grossly offensive” and therefore illegal when used as a means by which to hound Jews. When it is delivered via a medium of communication, it can fall within the purview of the Communications Act. That English precedent has now been replicated in Scottish law today as well.

He will be extradited within ten days of the seven-day period in which he can appeal.

Mr Reynouard was sentenced to jail for four months on 25th November 2020 by a court in Paris and again in January 2021 for six months, in addition to fines. His latest conviction is in relation to a series of antisemitic postings on Facebook and Twitter and a 2018 YouTube video for which fellow French Holocaust denier, Hervé Ryssen (also known as Hervé Lalin), received a seventeen-month-jail term earlier that year.

However, Mr Reynouard fled the country before serving his sentence and settled in the UK, where he reportedly worked as a private tutor teaching children mathematics, physics and chemistry. Private tutors are not required to undergo background checks.

In November last year, he was finally arrested near Edinburgh. In the intervening months, Campaign Against Antisemitism has been cooperating with French Jewish groups seeking Mr Reynouard’s extradition to France. Along with Lord Austin, an Honorary Patron of Campaign Against Antisemitism, we have corresponded with police forces and prosecutors in the UK and Interpol in an effort to locate Mr Reynouard and bring him to justice.

Scottish police arrested him at an address near the Scottish capital, where he was apparently living under a false identity. He was brought before a judge on the same day and refused extradition to France.

Earlier this year, Mr Reynouard appeared in court where he was served with a second arrest warrant, as the French authorities had allegedly made an error in their application for the initial arrest warrant. Paul Dunne, Mr Reynouard’s lawyer, said of Mr Reynouard: “He does not consent to his extradition to France.”

Mr Reynouard faces a sentence of almost two years in a French prison, in addition to any further sentence in relation to other ongoing proceedings.

The Office Central de Lutte Contre les Crimes Contre l’Humanité, les Génocides et les Crimes de Guerre (OCLCH) — the arm of the French gendarmerie that specialises in hate crime and war crimes — has been leading the investigation.

Mr Reynouard’s first Holocaust denial conviction was in 1991 for distributing leaflets denying the existence of the gas chambers at concentration camps. Holocaust denial has been a criminal offence in France since 1990. He has been convicted on numerous occasions and his subsequent sentences include multiple prison terms and a €10,000 fine.

Mr Reynouard is alleged to have ties to Catholic fundamentalist groups that deny the Holocaust. In a recent analysis of the French far-right, the newspaper Liberation claimed that Mr Reynouard and Mr Ryssen are key members of a network of propagandists dedicated to the denial and distortion of the Holocaust.

Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said: “Vincent Reynouard is a despicable Holocaust-denier who has repeatedly been convicted by French courts. For him to have evaded justice, only to settle in the UK as a private tutor teaching children, is intolerable, which is why we worked with French Jewish organisations to secure his extradition so that he faces the consequences of his abhorrent incitement.

“We are delighted that those efforts have borne fruit today, with the court granting the request to extradite Mr Reynouard so that he can face justice in France. This is not only the right judgement for the Jewish community, but also for the justice system. The UK cannot become a haven for those seeking to evade justice elsewhere. For antisemites in particular, the message is clear: you are not welcome in Britain. Good riddance, Mr Reynouard.”

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Outrage after group attends Norfolk festival dressed as Nazis

A group sparked backlash after attending a local festival dressed as Nazis.  

The festival, where attendees are encouraged to wear period dress, is an annual 1940s-themed event, held in Sheringham, Norfolk.

Attendees of the event confronted the group, which reportedly met at a local pub before beginning their march, by shouting to them that they were not welcome. Some members of the group were seen to be wearing swastikas, whilst others wore clothing that indicated an affiliation with the SS. 

Marshalls at the event reportedly attempted to get the group to leave before local police stepped in and escorted the group away from the festival. 

An anonymous group member said: “There was no offence intended… and we left when asked to do so.” He also claimed that the men in the group were from a history group. 

Of the costumes, Guy Walters, a historian and author of books relating to the Second World War, said on X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter: “People who dress like comedy SS clowns from ‘Allo Allo’ teach us nothing, absolutely nothing, about the Second World War. They’re just flabby Nazi wannabes, who deserve the utmost ridicule.”

Mike Keller, a witness to the event, said: “It was a lovely family atmosphere and very friendly, when suddenly from nowhere there were ten-fifteen men dressed in authentic SS uniform literally marching in unison. It was deeply offensive.

“These men were not milling about and blending in among people. They were marching and making a demonstration. It was frightening. My father was from a Jewish family who lost his parents and brothers and sisters in death camps. He was fortunate to escape with my uncle via Kindertransport, so having to see this with my son was mortally offensive and a disgraceful act.”

A spokesperson for Sheringham Town Council said: “Sheringham Town Council has been made aware that on the Saturday there was an incident in the town that was managed by the police. Sheringham Town Council will consult with the police, North Norfolk Railway and others to determine what happened and what action may be taken to prevent a recurrence.”

A spokesperson for Norfolk Police said: “A police officer on patrol in Sheringham came across a confrontation in the high street on Saturday at about 5.30pm, involving a man and a group of people who had been attending an event. The officer intervened and quickly resolved the incident. One man reported being assaulted and this is being investigated further. No one was injured during the incident.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Guy Walters

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BBC Arabic article links “fanatical Jews” of ancient Israel to 9/11 terrorists while playing down Islamism

A BBC Arabic article has linked “fanatical Jews” to the 9/11 terrorists while appearing to play down Islamism.

The Arabic-language article on the Corporation’s website purports to recount the “story of suicide attackers throughout history”, claiming that the tactic originated with a Jewish group fighting the Roman occupation of ancient Israel, and tracing the history through the Middle Ages, Japanese Kamikaze pilots and into the current era of Islamist terrorism and 9/11.

The article reads: “It is believed that the first suicide attacks…were by a group of Jewish fanatics who spread fear…during the Roman occupation.”

It goes on to suggest that, since the end of WWII, suicide attacks were “almost” non-existent until Israel’s incursion into southern Lebanon in 1982, for which no context is provided.

While ancient Jews are described as “fanatics”, the word “terrorist” appears nowhere in relation to modern Islamist and Arab terror organisations. Indeed, other than the ancient Jews who targeted the Roman military, no other faction is censured in the article at all, even though some limited their attacks to combatants while others specifically target civilians.

The history is also dubious, with the mass Jewish suicide at Masada somehow presented as an example of the use of suicide attacks.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Of all the suicide attackers over the past two millennia, the only ones described by BBC Arabic as ‘fanatics’ are the Jewish assassins of ancient Judea who attacked the occupying Roman military. All others appear to escape any form of censure, including the modern Islamist terror groups. Moreover, this latest incarnation of Middle Eastern suicide attack is still blamed on the Jews, with the article alleging that the suicide strategy was only adopted because of Israel’s incursion into Lebanon.”

According to the JC, BBC Arabic has issued more than 130 corrections following complaints of bias and inaccuracy in reports about Israel and Jewish affairs since the beginning of 2021 — an average of more than one every week.

A spokesperson for BBC Arabic said that it “offers independent and impartial news and information. As with all content produced by the BBC, their output is subject to the BBC’s rigorous Editorial Guidelines. We reject any notion that there are wider issues with the service’s 24-hour, multi-platform output.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors traditional media and regularly holds outlets to account. If members of the public are concerned about reportage in the media, they should contact us at [email protected].

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Teenager who promoted antisemitic views convicted of terror offences 

A teenager from Swindon who promoted antisemitic and racist views has been convicted of terror offences. 

Yesterday, after a two-week trial, Malakai Wheeler, 18, was found guilty at Winchester Crown Court of six offences relating to the possession and dissemination of terrorist material.

Mr Wheeler was arrested in 2021 following an investigation, which was conducted by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, into users in a Telegram group whom police suspected to be sharing extreme far-right content. 

Following his arrest, police found the Terrorist Handbook in Mr Wheeler’s bedroom. The Terrorist Handbook is a publication which instructs readers on how to make bombs and other explosives. 

Mr Wheeler was found to be frequently sharing material in the chat, including antisemitic content and instructions on how to make explosives. 

The defendant said in court that he had downloaded the explosives instructions as they would be useful should there be a case of “social disorder”. 

He added: “Weapons could be useful if there was a serious emergency. Covid showed things could come out of the blue. It could be an economic problem or a foreign invasion, things can just pop out of nowhere.”

Mr Wheeler told the court that he downloaded material with the intent to make an archive if the documents were deleted from Telegram. He also said that he had obtained videos, which show people being murdered, from ISIS out of “morbid curiosity”. 

The court heard that the defendant was interested in Nazism and anti-Zionism. Mr Wheeler also told the court that he had a swastika as part of his profile picture on Telegram and admitted to being in a photograph whilst doing a Nazi salute in a skull mask. 

Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “Although only sixteen at the time of his arrest, Wheeler was deeply entrenched in a Telegram chat group committed to extreme right-wing ideology. He was not simply curious, or a passive observer within the group. He clearly shared the same mindset as other members and was very active when it came to promoting racist and antisemitic views and propaganda. It is important young people recognise the potential impact of their online activity, before they cross a line into criminality, or engage in harmful or dangerous behaviours.”

Mr Wheeler remains in custody until his sentencing in November.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Contrary to his assertions, Mr Wheeler’s obsession with violence went far beyond ‘morbid curiosity’. His anticipation of ‘social chaos’ is indicative of the very real threat that is posed by the far-right. Cases such as these shed light on the kind of rhetoric that is utilised to recruit young people and mobilise them against the Jewish community. We hope that Mr Wheeler’s sentencing will reflect the serious danger that he poses to society.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Wiltshire Police

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Former prison officer who shared neo-Nazi rap songs sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment 

A former prison officer who shared neo-Nazi rap songs was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on Thursday. 

Ashley Podsiad-Sharp, 42, from Barnsley, was sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on the charge of being in possession of material likely to be of use to a terrorist contrary to section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000. 

Mr Podsiad-Sharp formerly worked as a prison officer at a men’s prison in Armley, Leeds. 

The material in question was the White Resistance Manual. According to law enforcement authorities in California, the White Resistance Manual is “basically a guerrilla warfare manual instructing people on different types of weapons, on creating weapons, on police investigations, basically how to conduct covert urban operations.”

The manual states: “No longer will we allow the Jews to live like parasites upon the body of our race. No longer will we tolerate any Jewish influence in our political system, our legal system or our mass-media.” 

Following an investigation into Mr Podsiad-Sharp’s online activity, he was arrested by Counter Terrorism Policing North East with the assistance of South Yorkshire Police, in May 2022.

In May, he appeared at Sheffield Crown Court where he faced accusations of running an online fitness club in which he promoted terrorism through the use of neo-Nazi rap music.

Said to be the founder of the White Stag Athletic Club, Mr Podsiad-Sharp described the club as “nationalist boy scouts for grown-ups”, which he said was “something beautiful, a brotherhood among a lot of men who have none — white working-class men”. As part of the process for new recruits for the club, members were asked if they were of Jewish or Muslim heritage, mixed race or LGBTQ+. 

Judge Richardson said during Mr Podsiad-Sharp’s sentencing: “The simple fact of the matter is you created a cauldron of self-absorbed neo-Nazism masquerading as a low grade all-male sports club. This sought to camouflage your real purpose to incite violence against those you hated with a vengeance. Those individuals were inadequate, ill-educated, unsuccessful, and dangerous. The terrorist manual was an integral part of this scheme. Sooner or later that violence would have eventuated.”

“You place Hitler and his henchmen as idols in your life,” Judge Richardson later added.

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Counter Terrorism Policing North East

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Former RAF cadet and “Hitler’s strongest soldier” admits to far-right graffiti

A former RAF (Royal Air Force) cadet admitted in court on Friday that he was responsible for far-right graffiti.

An unnamed seventeen-year-old boy appeared in court at the Old Bailey and admitted two separate acts of vandalism in 2022 on a Windrush memorial in Port Talbot. The graffiti consisted of a swastika, text that read, “Nazi zone” and “1488”, and a racial slur. 

1488 is often used as a coded reference to the neo-Nazi fourteen-word oath, “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children,” a slogan initially devised by David Lane, a member of the white supremacist terrorist group “The Order”, which was responsible for the murder of Jewish radio host Alan Berg. The number 88 refers to the eighth letter of the alphabet, H, and is intended as a code for “Heil Hitler.”

The Court heard about the teenager’s troubling history of engagement with far-right ideology, which included: Being banned from Instagram for posting Nazi content; owning a copy of Mein Kampf, which was bought for him by his mother; and having an internet history of extreme far-right material. 

According to the prosecution, police also found knives, a gasmask, a KKK flag, a swastika flag and an air rifle among the defendant’s possessions. 

A video was shown in Court where the teenager posed with the air rifle and called himself, “Hitler’s strongest soldier”. Another video showed him wearing a swastika necklace and talking about “white power”.

It was also found that the defendant wrote “check my art out” on Telegram after the mural was vandalised. 

The Court heard that the defendant was referred to the Government’s Prevent programme last year by his RAF cadet group. He was later expelled from the group when he shared an image of himself with a swastika on his chest with other cadets. 

Lucy Jones, prosecuting, also presented content from the defendant’s diary, which included an entry that expressed desire for a “race war”. 

Another entry included a to-do list that detailed items such as “burn a building down, maybe bomb it”, “kill someone”, “join a Nazi militia”, “get a gun or make one” and “get buff as hell”.

The teenager previously pled guilty to two charges of possessing a terrorist document, three charges of distributing a terrorist document and three charges of criminal damage in June. 

The defendant is due to be sentenced in September and will remain on unconditional bail until then. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

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Neo-Nazi graffiti discovered in Maryland

Antisemitic vandalism has been found in North Bethesda, Maryland. 

The graffiti, which was discovered on Sunday, reportedly consists of a swastika and text that reads, “Club Aryan Excellent”. 

The vandalism has since been covered up. 

The incident is being investigated by the Montgomery County Police Department.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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Comedy agent reportedly screamed at Jewish comedian about how “Jews exaggerate antisemitism” at Edinburgh Fringe

A comedy agent reportedly berated a Jewish comedian about how “Jews exaggerate antisemitism”.

The alleged incident occurred in a bar on the last day of this year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe, also known as the Edinburgh Fringe, the world’s largest annual performing arts festival.

Bennett Arron, a Welsh comedian and writer who in 2018 performed at a Campaign Against Antisemitism comedy fundraiser, wrote of his “upsetting” experience on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he said the incident had “really spoilt what had been a wonderful Festival”.

“Bit upsetting. The Agent of some well known comedians decided to scream at me in a bar, in front of my family who had come to celebrate my success at the Fringe, that Jews exaggerate antisemitism and that other minority groups have real justification for complaint but not Jews,” he said.

Continuing, he wrote: “He also went on to scream that Jews should never have been given Israel and that Jews smeared Jeremy Corbyn. When I asked if we could discuss this another time as he was upsetting my family, he shouted “See THEY always do this!” It really spoilt what had been a wonderful Festival.”

Mr Arron was met by support from other comedians.

Geoff Norcott posted that it was “Horrible to read of these kind of comments in 2023,” while Felicity Ward wrote: “This is so awful. The confidence of the abuse given the time and place is even more upsetting. To feel bold enough to do it publicly without fear of any real reprimand is disgusting. I’m really sorry you and your family had to endure this.”

Robert Popper, creator of the Channel 4 sitcom Friday Night Dinner, said: “Nasty. Sorry this had to happen to you. I wonder if his clients know. And what they’d think about it.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Jewish comedians should not have to live in fear about being harassed by antisemitism-deniers. It is utterly appalling to hear that Bennett Arron was subjected to such vile abuse, and it is even more concerning to learn that someone within his own industry might be responsible. Individuals working in comedy would do well to remember that racism against Jews is no joke. We have since been in touch with Mr Arron to offer our support.”

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Identifiably Jewish men accosted whilst walking to Finchley synagogue

Two identifiably Jewish men were reportedly accosted whilst they were on their way to attend a Sabbath service at a synagogue in Finchley on Saturday 26th August.

The alleged victims were two men in their 70s and were both wearing kippot (skullcaps) and and carrying bags containing tallit (prayer shawls). Whilst the men were walking down Chessington Avenue towards Finchley United Synagogue, also known as Kinloss Synagogue, a car, believed to be a small black hatchback, stopped beside them. 

The driver, described as being a man of Middle Eastern appearance wearing a baseball cap who was approximately 30 years of age, was said to have rolled down his window before asking one of the men if he could ask them a question.

He then allegedly proceeded to show them a photograph on his phone of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before asking: “You know who this is?” 

One of the men responded to the driver by saying “I haven’t a clue….never seen him before,” before asking his friend to take a look who then gave the same reply.

Seemingly infuriated, the driver apparently began shouting at the pair before speeding off.

If you have any information about this incident, please e-mail [email protected].

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Man arrested in connection with vandalism in Kent Jewish cemetery 

A man has been arrested in connection with vandalism of a cemetery at a Jewish cemetery in Kent. 

The suspect, a 41-year-old man, was arrested in relation to alleged criminal damage to the cemetery adjacent to Chatham Memorial Synagogue, in Rochester, Kent. 

Headstones in the cemetery were found knocked over and smashed earlier this month. 

Kent Police have confirmed that an investigation is still ongoing and encourage anyone with further information relating to the incident to contact them. 

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “This is not the first time that Chatham Memorial Synagogue has been attacked. It is a sober reminder that we are in a time when Jews, including their institutions, are five times likelier to be targeted in a hate crime. We commend the police for acting swiftly and making an arrest, and expect that any perpetrators will be punished to the full extent of the law. If anyone has any information about the attack, please urgently contact us or the police.”

If you have any more information, please contact Kent Police on 101, quoting crime reference number 46/152042/23, or Campaign Against Antisemitism at [email protected] or on 0330 822 0321.

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

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CAA seeking witnesses in connection with Kent Jewish cemetery vandalism

A Jewish cemetery in Kent was discovered to have been vandalised. 

Several headstones at the cemetery adjacent to Chatham Memorial Synagogue in Rochester were found last week to have been smashed and knocked over. 

Dr Dalia Halpern-Matthews, a Trustee of the synagogue, said: “We shouldn’t be having to put up with the mass destruction of something that should be sacred,

“The cemetery is very special obviously in terms of every individual grave, but when you consider that it is the only shul [synagogue] with a cemetery attached in the country, it is a very significant shul. It has been Grade II listed for many years.”

This is not the first time that the synagogue has been the target of such attacks. According to Dr Halpern-Matthews, the cemetery itself has been attacked five times over the past ten years.

Last year, an attack on the cemetery is understood to have cost the synagogue £19,000 in repairs. 

Other attacks on the synagogue have included graffiti that reportedly depicted “genitalia” with “something about ‘f***ing religion’”. On another occasion, faeces was found smeared onto the building. 

Incidents such as these have reportedly left some of the synagogue’s congregants fearful of attending services in person.

The most recent incident has been reported to Kent Police and is under investigation. 

In a statement, Kent Police said: “At around 12pm on Friday 18th August 2023 Kent Police received a third-party report of criminal damage at a synagogue in Rochester. Officers have since spoken to representatives of the synagogue and this incident is being treated as a hate crime. Enquiries to locate those responsible for the damage are ongoing.”

If you have any more information, please contact Kent Police on 101, quoting crime reference number 46/152042/23, or Campaign Against Antisemitism at [email protected] or on 0330 822 0321.

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

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Illinois teenagers charged in connection to antisemitic graffiti

Two teenagers in Illinois have been charged in connection with antisemitic graffiti.

The charges relate to graffiti that was discovered on the premises of several businesses in the Round Lake area, north of Chicago. The graffiti was said to consist of hate speech as well as a number of swastikas.

David Dolan, 18, and Anthony Shields, 19, were located and charged by police on Tuesday after a local Walmart was discovered vandalised the same day. 

Police reportedly found spray paint in their possession that matched the graffiti on the Walmart. During the investigation, the suspects allegedly took responsibility for the other reported incidents of vandalism.

Both suspects have been charged with one felony count of Class 3 hate crime, four counts of Class 4 hate crime and one misdemeanour count of criminal defacement of property. 

Additionally, Mr Dolan has been charged with one misdemeanour count of criminal trespassing to property. 

Chief Wayne Wilde of Round Lake Beach Police said: “Hate speech like what was displayed Tuesday has no place in Round Lake Beach. These offenders will be charged to the fullest extent possible for what they did.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States. 

Image credit: Lake County Sheriff’s Office

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Virginia teenager arrested in connection with antisemitic flyers 

A teenager from Virginia has been arrested in connection to antisemitic flyers in Fairfax County.

It is believed that the suspect was captured on a homeowner’s camera while in the act of flyering. The footage was shared with police.

The flyers contain rhetoric that ties Jews with immigration and makes reference to the “GDL”. 

The GDL, or Goyim Defence League, has been described as an antisemitic hate group whose membership reportedly contains several neo-Nazis and is understood to be led by Jon Minadeo II. The group is divided into regional branches and regularly distributes antisemitic flyers across the United States. 

Other flyers feature well-known Jewish figures with Stars of David next to their photos. 

The suspect was arrested after police saw him in a Target store, where its staff claimed that he was attempting to shoplift. Police reportedly found that the teenager was allegedly in the process of attempting to shoplift glue, sandwich bags and a staple gun. 

The store is reportedly near a Jewish community that was targeted with the flyers. 

The suspect has been charged with petty larceny and is being held at a juvenile detention centre. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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Man charged with hate crime in connection with alleged assault of Jew in Berlin

A man has been charged with a hate crime after he allegedly assaulted a Jewish man at a subway station.

On Saturday, a Jewish man, who was walking with his son, was first approached by a 61-year-old man, at Storkower Strasse subway station in the Prenzlauer-Berg district of Berlin. The suspect allegedly spoke to the victim in a “disrespectful manner”, before the victim and his son ignored him and continued on their route. 

When they returned to the same station in the afternoon, however, they encountered the same man, who allegedly punched the victim in the neck and said an antisemitic insult. 

Shortly after, the suspect was found by police, who charged him with a hate crime. It is understood that the man was determined to be inebriated at the time of the arrest, following the administration of a breathalyser test. 

Last week, an investigation was announced into a suspected arson attack on a Holocaust street library box in Berlin. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism in Germany, which have increased considerably. 

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Spike in antisemitic hate crimes in New York neighbourhoods

Multiple antisemitic hate crimes have been reported in Jewish neighbourhoods in Brooklyn, New York.

On 16th August, two men on a motorbike snatched a kippah from a Jewish man’s head in the heavily-Jewish neighbourhood of Borough Park. Police are attempting to identify the two suspects through CCTV footage.

The next day, a suspect riding a Citi Bike slapped a 43-year-old man who was wearing identifiably Jewish clothing on Wallabout Street in Williamsburg. Later that day, on the same street, a Jewish woman was slapped in the head. 

South Williamsburg is a heavily Jewish area, with a large Hasidic community. 

New York has seen multiple antisemitic incidents over the past few months, including a local synagogue vandalised with graffiti and a separate incident where swastikas were drawn in a park in nearby Long Island.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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German woman fined for antisemitic e-mail to Director of Hanover Opera

A woman in Germany has been fined after she sent an antisemitic e-mail to the Director of the Hanover State Opera. 

The fine of €1,200 (£1022) was issued by the Hanover District Court in relation to a message that was sent to Laura Berman, the Director at the opera house, via an online contact form. 

In the e-mail, the unnamed defendant was alleged to have written a complaint of a performance at the opera house and related this to Ms Berman being Jewish. 

The defendant initially rejected the proceedings against her but then accepted the penalty order, which stipulates that she must pay €40 per day for 30 days. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism in Germany, which have increased considerably. 

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Antisemitic vandalism found at Winnipeg underpass 

Antisemitic vandalism has been discovered at an underpass in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The graffiti appears to be have been spray-painted and includes text such as “Hail Hitler [sic]” and “KKKanada”. 

The vandalism was reported and has subsequently been removed by the City of Winnipeg. 

Of the vandalism, Marvin Rotrand, National Director of B’nai Brith Canada, said that he was not surprised due to the frequency of such messages in Canada. He also said of the impact of the graffiti that it is “meant to hurt, and it does”. 

Earlier this year, antisemitic graffiti was reported at a primary school in Peterborough, Ontario.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout Canada, which have dramatically increased according to a recent audit.

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Vindicating CAA and others, judge describes Abdullah Qureshi’s crimes as “terrible events for the entire Jewish community” before handing down sentence

A judge has described Abdullah Qureshi’s crimes as “terrible events for the entire Jewish community” before handing down his sentence in relation to racially aggravated assaults that Mr Qureshi committed against religious Jews two years ago.

On 7th April 2022, Mr Qureshi, 30, from Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, pleaded guilty at Thames Magistrates’ Court to two counts of assault by beating and one count of grievous bodily harm with intent. The charges related to a series of assaults on 18th August 2021 in Stamford Hill in which five religious Jews in the North London neighbourhood were violently attacked.

In one incident at 18:41 on the day of the attacks, an Orthodox Jewish man was struck in the face with what appeared to be a bottle. In another at 19:10, a child was slapped on the back of the head, and in yet another at 20:30, a 64-year-old victim was struck and left unconscious on the ground, suffering facial injuries and a broken ankle. Two further incidents were also alleged.

The incidents received significant media attention at the time, and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, condemned “this appalling attack,” adding: “Let me be clear, racist abuse and hate crime, including antisemitism, have absolutely no place in our city.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism then revealed that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had dropped the racially/religiously aggravated element of those charges as part of a plea deal with Mr Qureshi. After we, Shomrim, CST and other communal organisations made representations to the CPS, it agreed to reinstate the aggravated elements, but Mr Qureshi appeared in court to resist the reinstatement of the aggravated element. In August last year, Stratford Magistrates’ Court agreed to reinstate the racially/religiously aggravated element to the charges against Mr Qureshi, and, at a further hearing at Thames Magistrates’ Court, he pleaded not guilty. In November 2022, Mr Qureshi was found guilty of the reinstated racially/religiously aggravated charges that the CPS initially dropped, before intervention by Campaign Against Antisemitism and other groups.

In December, Mr Qureshi was expected to be sentenced, but this was postponed following concerns surrounding his mental health. The court heard that Mr Qureshi suffered from anxiety and depression and that he had been hearing “internal voices” which ordered him to carry out the attacks. In February of this year, His Honour Judge Noel Lucas QC ordered an interim hospital order under Section 38 of the Mental Health Act 1983. Such an order is given when a person has been convicted but a court has been advised by doctors that the person has a mental health issue that requires hospital treatment before sentencing should occur. 

On 29th June, Mr Qureshi appeared at Wood Green Crown Court, where the court heard the first of two medical reports on his condition, with a view to hearing the second in August.

Today, Mr Qureshi appeared at the same court via video link. He was asked if he wanted representation and declined, as he has done on previous occasions.

Also appearing by video from elsewhere was Dr Purvesh Madhani, who reported that he and a second doctor had considered sentencing options under the law and concluded that a prison sentence would not be appropriate in view of Mr Qureshi’s mental illness. Instead, they recommended an order under section 37 of the Mental Health Act order, along with a section 41 restriction. Dr Madhani said that “I have come to the conclusion he has symptoms…[namely] delusions and hallucinations that make me feel that a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia [is appropriate].”

Mr Qureshi argued against the s.41 restriction on the basis that he had not reoffended since the original incidents (albeit that much of that time has been spent in hospital). Dr Madhani accepted this but also noted that on one occasion Mr Qureshi had to “receive treatment without your consent”. The doctor also observed that Mr Qureshi does not understand the link between his mental health issues and the crimes that he committed.

Nicki Roberson, appearing via video link for the CPS, revealed that, at the time of Mr Qureshi’s arrest, his father expressed concerns about his mental health. She also read out victim statements. One victim not only suffered trauma himself from the assaults at the hands of Mr Qureshi, but his four eldest children also had to attend therapy for a year. Another victim – a fourteen-year-old who cannot be identified – said in his victim statement that “I felt scared…I said nothing as I was shocked” and that “this must not happen to anyone.” Yet another victim related in his statement that he had been punched by Mr Qureshi in his right ear “with tremendous power” and his ear was “burning for months”, leaving him in “excruciating” pain. He is still “jumpy at the slightest noise” and his GP has diagnosed him with PTSD and referred him to a specialist. One of the victims suffered financial loss due to being unable to work for a period.

It also emerged that Mr Qureshi has two previous convictions, including one under the Public Order Act in relation to violence outside a nightclub in Swansea City Centre. Once locked in a prison cell, he had also grabbed the throat of a police officer.

Ms Roberson described Mr Qureshi’s attacks in Stamford Hill as having involved a “significant degree of planning” and argued that the crimes possessed a “high level of religious aggravation”. She sought a restraining order for an indefinite period for the victims, barring Mr Qureshi from contacting them by any means, prohibiting him from coming within 100 metres of them, and also banning him from the London Borough of Hackney.

Mr Qureshi denied travelling from his home in Yorkshire just to commit the offences, insisting that “there was no planning.” He also expressed contrition several times, saying. “I am deeply sorry for any harm that I have caused” and “My actions were totally unacceptable.” However, he also claimed that “I was drunk and I was angry.”

Judge Kalyani Kaul KC observed that there has been widespread coverage of the attacks in the Jewish media, and that this must have caused “a deep sense of shock and insecurity” for the Jewish community. She said that “these sorts of attacks make waves” that are ultimately greater than the attacks themselves, describing the crimes as “terrible events for the entire Jewish community”. The Jewish community, she said, “should not be subject to discrimination or hurt,” adding that attacks such as these “encourage divisiveness…[and] mistrust…from Jewish people to wider society”. She declared that these attacks affect not only the Jewish community “but all of us”.

She noted of one of the victims that “his life has been changed forever, both in terms of his physical health and how he conducts his life” and, with regard to another victim, that it was “only by the good grace of G-d” that he was not injured further. The judge was also not persuaded by Mr Qureshi’s contrition, concluding that “I’m not convinced you fully take responsibility,” and rejected his drunkenness defence: “[it was not] simply a question of being drunk, hitting out and not really knowing what you’ve done.”

Judge Kaul declared that she would have liked to issue a prison sentence but was unable to under law. “If it had been a sentence I could pass,” she said, it would have been in the region of five years’ custody, but “I’m not passing that sentence because I can’t.” Instead, she ruled that “I am satisfied you are suffering from a mental disorder” specifically “paranoid schizophrenia”, and issued orders under section 37 with a section 41 restriction, because “there is a great risk you will commit further offences if you are not detained.” She also granted the restraining order for a period of ten years.

Under this hospital order, Mr Qureshi will be sent to hospital and can only be discharged with the consent of the Justice Secretary.

We are grateful to Nicki Roberson and District Crown Prosecutor Varinder Hayre for helping to bring about today’s outcome.

Varinder Hayre, District Crown Prosecutor and London North’s Hate Crime Lead, said: “Qureshi, who travelled from West Yorkshire, carried out a series of antisemitic attacks on the Jewish community. The only thing which connected his victims was their Jewish faith. Hatred of any kind has no place in society. This sentence should serve as a strong deterrent to those thinking of committing similar crimes.

“I would like to thank the three victims for coming forward and supporting the prosecution. I am very pleased that we have achieved justice for the victims who were badly affected by this unprovoked, antisemitic, religiously aggravated hate crime. Indeed, no one in our society should be targeted because of who they are or what they do. Hate crimes – including antisemitism – have a corrosive effect on society. We will always prosecute where there is sufficient evidence to do so.”

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We are very satisfied that Abdullah Qureshi has finally been sentenced for crimes committed almost two years ago. Justice requires perseverance, and we worked to help ensure that Mr Qureshi was identified and caught, the correct charges were brought against him, he was prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and he was sentenced appropriately. This sentence helps to redress the serious harm caused to his victims by these awful crimes.

“Today’s sentence also vindicates efforts made by Campaign Against Antisemitism, Shomrim, CST and others to pressure the Crown Prosecution Service into reinstating the aggravated charges after they were initially dropped. The CPS claimed that it did not have sufficient evidence to make out the antisemitic element of the crimes, but we disagreed and the court found that we were right to do so. We are grateful to the CPS for making the case forcefully since then and bringing about this outcome.

“Today a judge has robustly reiterated the impact of these abominable crimes both on the victims and on the Jewish community more widely. The CPS must recognise that victims of antisemitic crimes cannot be made to accept deficient legal outcomes, and perpetrators are on notice that we will not stop until Jewish victims have justice.”

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

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Antisemitic graffiti discovered in Derbyshire

Antisemitic graffiti has been found in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. 

The vandalism was discovered on a sign on Inkersall Green Road, Inkersall, on Sunday. 

The identifiably Jewish member of the public who reported the incident to the police has previously spoken about his experiences of antisemitism in Chesterfield. On one occasion, he reported seeing swastika graffiti and, on another, he said that a young man approached him shouting, “Hitler”.

Of the graffiti in Inkersall, he said: “It’s not the only incident and now I have been diagnosed with PTSD after an incident involving verbal abuse in February. It all is really having an impact on my health and making me ill.

“I saw the Star of David graffiti first time last year and I felt a little bit shaken, but it didn’t really get to me [sic]. The fact that it’s been happening consistently is what really concerns me. I started to wonder if I belong here.”

Derbyshire Constabulary has confirmed that it is investigating the incident. It has advised that anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area between 12:00 and 13:30 on 13th August should contact the police on 101 or via social media and quote the crime reference number: 23*501421.

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

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26 synagogues evacuated in the US following bomb threats and hoax calls

26 synagogues in the United States have been evacuated after receiving bomb threats and hoax calls.

The calls were made to synagogues across twelve different states over the course of four weekends, it is understood. It is believed that the incidents are part of a coordinated effort by a single group of online trolls. 

One of the synagogues targeted, Beth Torah Jewish Temple in Fremont, California, received a bomb threat at around 20:00 last Friday and had to evacuate its premises. Following the evacuation, police searched the building but found no suspicious items or people.

Then, on Saturday, congregants of Temple Beth Tikvah, a synagogue in Fullerton, also in California, were forced to evacuate the synagogue after a bomb threat was made at around midday. The caller reportedly said that the bomb would detonate twenty minutes after the call.

The moment that the leaders of the prayer service received news of the call was captured on a livestream of the Shabbat service that was taking place at the time.

Following the evacuation, police found no explosive devices on the premises. 

Of the call, the synagogue’s Rabbi, Mati Kirschenbaum, said: “Sadly, this is something that many temples, many Jewish houses of worship…have to live with.”

The ADL has also reported that two of its offices were targeted in similar attacks. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Google

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New York synagogue vandalised with antisemitic graffiti

A synagogue in the Upper East Side of New York City has been the target of antisemitic graffiti. 

The graffiti was discovered on Congregation Kehilath Jeshuran’s display board outside the synagogue.  

Footage shows a young man passing the building, opening what appears to be a marker pen, and writing on the board on Saturday.

Rabbi Chaim Stenmetz, the Senior Rabbi at the synagogue, said: “Every incident of antisemitism is very significant…we very often see that small incidents escalate into something much larger.”

The incident has been reported to the authorities and is under investigation. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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Holocaust history book box destroyed in suspected arson attack in Berlin

Police in Berlin are investigating a suspected arson attack on a Holocaust street library box.

The library, which is part of a larger communal library project called “Bücherboxx”, is located near the Track 17 memorial at Grunewald train station. 

The memorial commemorates the thousands of Jews who were deported from the station to concentration camps during the Holocaust. 

The Bücherboxx at the memorial contains a volume of books that relate to Holocaust history; members of the public are encouraged to borrow and read the material.

According to German media, witnesses saw a man enter the library and deposit a book before setting it on fire. An antisemitic note was also reportedly discovered at the site.

Last week, it was announced that German authorities were investigating the possibility of an antisemitic motive after an Israeli man was attacked by three men in Berlin. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism in Germany, which have increased considerably. 

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White Supremacist arrested after allegedly threatening jury in trial of Pittsburgh Tree of Life Synagogue shooter

A white supremacist was arrested and charged with threatening the jury, judge and witnesses at the trial of the Pittsburgh Synagogue shooter, Robert Bowers.

Hardy Carroll Lloyd, 45, from West Virginia, was charged with witness tampering, obstruction of justice and transmitting threats. He is accused of making comments calling for Mr Bowers’ release and threatening anyone involved in convicting him at his trial.

Mr Lloyd also allegedly wrote on 14th May on the Russian social media site VKontakte: “Free Robert Bowers Now!!…We need to support anyone who kills jews [sic].” 

On 17th May, three days later, he is claimed to have posted: “Robert Bowers did Pgh [Pittsburgh] a Favour. Any juror who finds him guilty is guilty of anti-White racism.” In an e-mail to local news stations, Mr Lloyd allegedly threatened to release personal information about jurors, announcing that he was “taking pictures of ALL cars and people who leave the courthouse”.

Mr Lloyd is also alleged to have placed or had others place for him stickers in predominantly Jewish areas that directed readers to a website claimed to be his and which is full of antisemitic abuse. The criminal complaint lodged against him argues that some stickers were themselves antisemitic, featuring symbols such as swastikas.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Texas Department of Public Safety

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Jewish Florida Mayor receives death threat

An Orthodox Jewish Mayor in Florida is in FBI protection after receiving neo-Nazi death threats against him and his family.

Shlomo Danzinger, the Republican mayor of the town of Surfside, has been placed in 24-hour police protection, along with his wife and four children, after receiving a death threat from an unnamed individual. 

On 4th August 2023, the Mayor received an e-mail which claimed to represent “The Fourth Reich”, a neo-Nazi movement which supports the reincarnation of the Nazi Party and its genocidal ideology.

Mr Danzinger told local news: “Essentially, the e-mail said that perhaps it would be appropriate for the writer to come by my house and teach my family a lesson.” 

Upon receipt of the e-mail, Mr Danzinger immediately sent it to local law enforcement which determined that it was a credible threat. The issue was then sent to the FBI, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, which collectively decided that the most suitable course of action was to place Mr Danzinger and his family under police protection in their home until the threat is diminished. 

Mr Danzinger is the first Jewish mayor of Surfside and has stated that, as the threat is antisemitic in nature, he intends to prosecute the perpetrator if given the opportunity. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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Derbyshire Man who downloaded bomb-making material and researched far-right and Islamist groups sentenced to prison

A man who downloaded bomb-making material was sentenced to two years and six months’ imprisonment on Monday. 

David Bodill, 29 from Buxton, was convicted and sentenced at Manchester Crown Court after being charged with one offence under section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1883.  

Mr Bodill was initially arrested on 2nd March 2022 after police discovered that he attempted to buy potential explosive-making materials.    

Following his arrest, police found chemicals that could be used to make explosives at his home, along with a notepad that contained instructions on how to make such explosives. 

Police also found concerning material on Mr Bodill’s laptop, which contained videos from extremist Islamist terror groups and far-right groups that featured beheadings and bomb-making instructions. 

Mr Bodill was due to appear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 22nd October the same year but failed to attend. 

It was then discovered that he had fled to Bulgaria, when he told police that he had no intention of returning to the UK. Mr Bodill was arrested by the Bulgarian authorities in January, earlier this year, and was subsequently extradited to the UK. 

Of the conviction, Detective Sergeant Frank Fraser of Counter Terrorism Policing East Midlands said: “The substances and downloaded bomb making materials possessed by David Bodill are very concerning. Not only had he researched and written his own notes on bomb making but had also searched for and downloaded extreme footage from various terrorist groups.

“While he did not appear to have any significantly extreme political views his interest in such matters – combined with his bomb making materials and handbooks – makes for a dangerous individual.”

He added: “We welcome both the verdict and sentence and hope it sends a clear message that we will do all we can to ensure the safety of our communities. We have seen an increasing number of people being exposed to extremist material online and I would urge anyone who has any concerns about any of the family or friends who may be exhibiting concerning behaviour to report it.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Derbyshire Constabulary 

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Israeli model Shay Zanco allegedly asked to leave Egyptian hotel when staff discovered she was Jewish

An Israeli model was allegedly asked to leave an Egyptian hotel after its staff discovered her background.

Shay Zanco, who was in Egypt to accompany the American rapper Travis Scott on his tour, was reportedly asked to leave the hotel once staff discovered that she was an Israeli Jew, one day after her arrival. 

Of the incident, Ms Zanco said: “I was very stressed and felt really humiliated. In the four years I’ve been [in the spotlight], I’ve never felt antisemitism or faced any problems because I’m Jewish and Israeli…this time it was something different. I left the hotel straight to the airport and caught the only flight there was to Paris, even though I had a photo shoot in Barcelona.”

According to Egyptian media, an official from the Chamber of Hotel Establishments of the Tourism Ministry in Egypt confirmed that the hotel was found to be unlicensed for tourism following an investigation. 

He also said that hotels are not permitted by the Ministry to bar tourists from their premises based on nationality and confirmed that action will be taken against the business under Egypt’s Hotel Establishments Law.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.

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Four Florida teenagers arrested in relation to antisemitic vandalism

Four teenagers in Pensacola, Florida, have been arrested following a series of antisemitic vandalism in the city. 

The arrests relate to multiple incidents, including a number of antisemitic graffiti and a brick that was thrown through a window of a Chabad centre. The brick was found with swastikas, “WLM [White Lives Matter] ” and “No Jews” scrawled onto it. 

Among those who were arrested were: Kessler Alexander Ferry, eighteen, who was charged with one count of a felony of criminal mischief enhanced to a hate crime; a seventeen-year-old, who was charged with seven counts of felony criminal mischief enhanced to a hate crime, one count of misdemeanour criminal mischief and one count of felony trespassing in a construction zone; a sixteen-year-old, who was charged with four counts of felony criminal mischief enhanced to a hate crime and one count of trespassing in a construction zone; and a fifteen-year-old, who was charged with seven counts of felony criminal mischief enhanced to a hate crime, one count of misdemeanour criminal mischief and one count of felony trespassing in a construction zone.

Of the charges, Chief Eric Randall of the Pensacola Police Department said: “We hope that these arrests can bring comfort and closure not only to those in our Jewish community, but to all citizens of this great city.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Google

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Police investigate possibility of antisemitic motive after Israeli man is attacked in Berlin

German authorities are investigating the possibility of an antisemitic motive after an Israeli man was attacked by three men in Berlin. 

The victim, a nineteen-year-old Israeli tourist, told police that he was walking with an eighteen-year-old woman whilst talking on the phone in Hebrew. 

A car then stopped next to the victim. Three men came out of the car and began speaking to the victim in German, which he did not understand. 

It is claimed that the men proceeded to attack the victim, and allegedly kicked and beat him before they got back into the vehicle and drove away.

The victim contacted the local authorities once he had arrived at the hospital. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism in Germany, which have increased considerably.

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Jewish greed comments hurled at barrister in North London dry cleaner

Comments parroting antisemitic tropes about Jewish wealth and greed were hurled at a barrister on Friday afternoon.

Barrister and author Jamie Susskind stated on Twitter that he experienced an antisemitic incident in a dry cleaner in the North London area of Highbury, which left him “shaking with anger”.

According to Mr Susskind, as he requested the cost of an alteration, a man in the shop shouted: “You’ve all got enough money haven’t you?” 

Mr Susskind said that the man then said: “And you lot already own half of Manhattan. That not enough?”

When Mr Susskind asked if the man was referring to Jewish people, he “responded by making the shape of a large hooked nose with his hand”.

Mr Susskind wrote of the incident on Twitter but implored people not to assume which shop it was.

“There are two dry cleaners in that stretch of road so please do not leap to conclusions about which one it was. If you live locally and would prefer to know, so you can avoid it, please DM me,” he tweeted.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has worked with Mr Susskind in the past.

Earlier this year, we assisted a Jewish victim of unfair dismissal to vindicate his complaint against his former employer and achieve a major compensation package. The victim was assisted by Jamie Susskind, as counsel, and by Asserson Law Offices, as solicitors.

In 2018, the neo-Nazi leader Jeremy Bedford-Turner was sentenced to twelve months in prison after being unanimously convicted by a jury of incitement to racial hatred over a speech he gave in 2015 at a demonstration called to protest against the “Jewification” of Golders Green.

The verdict was a humiliation for the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) after they blocked Mr Bedford-Turner’s prosecution for two years, forcing Campaign Against Antisemitism into a long legal battle which culminated in the CPS having to reverse its decision not to prosecute. Campaign Against Antisemitism was represented pro bono by Mr Susskind, as well as leading counsel Brian Kennelly QC and solicitor David Sonn, to whom we are immensely grateful, and without whom Mr Bedford-Turner would have escaped justice.

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Weston-super-Mare man faces terrorism charges linked to extreme right-wing ideology

A man from Weston-super-Mare is facing terrorism charges which police have said are linked to extreme right-wing ideology.

Gabrielle Budasz, 23 of Drove Road, appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court on Saturday where he was charged with collection of information containing information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to Section 58 (1)(b) of the Terrorism Act 2000 and dissemination of terrorist publications to encourage people to engage in terrorism, or provide information that could be useful to terrorists, contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Mr Budasz is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 1st September.

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

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Hikers discover antisemitic graffiti in Colorado Springs

Hikers have discovered antisemitic graffiti at High Chaparral Open Space, in Colorado Springs. 

The graffiti can be seen on rocks as well as on some of the signage at the hiking spot.

The vandalism consists of a number of spray-painted swastikas and a drawing of Adolf Hitler.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Google

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Melbourne Jewish students verbally attacked on bus by man with knife

A group of students from Leibler Yavneh College in Melbourne were verbally attacked on a bus by a man before he pulled out a knife. 

The incident began when a man on the bus began talking about “Jews, money and drugs”; he proceeded to become louder and could be heard describing himself as a Nazi. 

According to one of the students on the bus, the man then pulled out a knife that was “approximately six inches in length”, at which point they alerted the driver and other passengers. 

It is claimed that once the students managed to leave the bus, the man chased after them for a short distance. 

The incident has been reported to the local authorities and is under investigation. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.

Image credit: Google

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Antisemitic graffiti discovered in San Francisco school 

Antisemitic graffiti has been discovered at Commodore Sloat Elementary School in San Francisco. 

Over twenty pieces of vandalism were found on the school’s playground as well as on playground equipment and a library book exchange. 

One of the markings depicted a crossed-out Star of David with text underneath it that read: “f*** Jews.”

The incidents are being investigated by the local authorities. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Google

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Teenager accused of conducting research into Hove synagogue denies possessing an article for terrorist purposes

A teenager who allegedly conducted online research into the Hove Hebrew Congregation synagogue has pleaded not guilty to the charge of possessing an article for terrorist purposes.

Mason Reynolds, eighteen from Brighton, has been charged with eleven terrorism offences comprising five counts of collecting information which could be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, five counts of dissemination of terrorist publications, and one count of possessing an article for the purpose of terrorism.

Mr Reynolds, appearing at the Old Bailey earlier today via video link, denied the charge of possessing a “note detailing a plan to attack a synagogue” between 7th May and 27th June.

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, presiding, set a provisional trial at Winchester Crown Court for 10th April 2024.

A spokesperson for Counter Terrorism Policing Southeast said the charges against Reynolds were linked to an “extreme right-wing ideology.” 

In a statement, the CST said: “The threat of terrorism faced by Jewish communities is the reason why security remains an essential part of Jewish communal life. 

“We have been working closely with counter-terrorism police, Hove Hebrew Congregation and Sussex Jewish Representative Council to ensure appropriate measures are in place.” 

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Pittsburgh synagogue shooter Robert Bowers sentenced to death

Robert Bowers, the individual who committed the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, has been sentenced to death.

Mr Bowers, 50, opened fire inside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on 27th October 2018 – a Shabbat morning – armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle and multiple handguns. 

From the three congregations sharing the building that Shabbat morning – Dor Hadash, New Light, and the Tree of Life – eleven worshippers were killed and six were injured, including four police officers.

The trial concluded last month, with Mr Bowers being found guilty on all 63 charges, which include eleven counts of “obstruction of free exercise of religion resulting in death.”

Other charges included willfully causing bodily injury because of actual or perceived religion, use and discharge of a firearm to murder and use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Mr Bowers’ social media footprint demonstrated a history of fueling antisemitism and expressing hateful rhetoric. Mr Bowers was said to be particularly active on the platform Gab, where in his bio he asserted that “Jews are the children of Satan.”

During the trial, Rabbi Jonathan Perlman took the witness stand, reportedly wearing the same skullcap that he wore the day that Mr Bowers attacked the synagogue, which the police only recently returned to Rabbi Perlman after holding it as evidence for years.

The jury deliberated for approximately ten hours over two days. 

Antisemitic stickers were reportedly found in a Pittsburgh park the day the trial began, and have since been removed. 

According to the FBI, over 60 percent of hate crimes against a religious minority in the United States are motivated by antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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Terror suspects’ phone had a photos of Mumbai Chabad centre 

Police in India have found photos of a Chabad centre in Mumbai on a phone that allegedly belongs to two terror suspects. 

The suspects, Mohammed Imran, 23, and Mohammed Yunus Saki, 24, were arrested on 18th July in relation to a planned attack in another location. 

They are believed to be members of Al-Sufa, an Islamist terror group. The group is reportedly being investigated by the Maharashtra State Anti-Terrorism Squad for potential links to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). 

Earlier this year, Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to all MPs calling on them to back the Government’s reported proposal to proscribe IRGC under the Terrorism Act 2000.

We have provided the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, and the Security Minister, Tom Tugendhat, and all MPs with a dossier on the IRGC, detailing its horrendous record of antisemitism and violence against Jewish people.

Following the arrests of Mr Imran and Mr Saki, police found drone equipment and explosives among the suspects’ possessions. 

The Centre was previously the target of an attack in 2008, which left eight people dead. The attack was part of a series of attacks that were orchestrated by Lashkar-e-Taiba, an Islamist group based in Pakistan. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.

Image credit: Google

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Swastikas found in Nassau school playground

Antisemitic graffiti has been discovered on playground equipment at Chatterton School in Nassau County.

The vandalism consists of two swastikas, which appear to have been spray-painted onto the equipment. 

The vandalism was reported to the local authorities and is under investigation. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Google

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Man who owned Hitler portrait and called for extermination of Jews is jailed

A man who called for the extermination of Jewish people and whose house was adorned with Nazi paraphernalia, including a portrait of Adolf Hitler, has been jailed.

Samuel Doyle, 40, had also called for the extermination of the LGBTQ+ community online, and had Nazi flags and fridge magnets and fascist and racist manifestos and books, as well as the Hitler portrait, at his home in Glossop, Derbyshire.

Mr Doyle was arrested in February 2022 after his online activity was uncovered. He was charged and later pleaded guilty to five counts of distributing or publishing written material to stir up racial hatred.

He was jailed for three years at Manchester Crown Court.

DI Chris Brett, of Counter Terrorism Policing East Midlands, said: “Freedom of speech is an important part of our shared British values – and something that is enshrined in law. However, those freedoms are not without limit and it is clear that the views Samuel Doyle expressed online stepped well over the line into criminality.

“The posts he wrote are abhorrent – calling directly for violent action to be taken against a number of minority groups. Some may say that posting online is different to expressing these views in person, but that is absolutely not the case. We have seen across the world how online posting of this nature has had serious ‘real world’ outcomes – including, sadly, fatalities.

“In recent years we have seen an increasing number of cases involving people who have been pulled into online hate speech and extremist views, and I would urge people who are concerned about family, friends or colleagues to come forward and report their behaviour.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Derbyshire Police

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Swastikas spray-painted on cars in Orange County

Cars in Orange County have been discovered to have swastikas spray-painted on them. 

The cars that were targeted are located near an apartment complex in Costa Mesa. 

A photo of one of the cars, a silver Mercedes Benz with three visible swastikas, has been circulating on social media. 

The incidents are being investigated by the local authorities. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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Antisemitic graffiti discovered in Ontario park

Antisemitic graffiti has been discovered at Richard B. Harrison Park, in London, Ontario. 

The graffiti, which also featured and anti-LGBTQ+ language, was found scrawled onto playground equipment. It included several swastikas and the phrases: “Heil Hitler”; “No to lgbtq, yes to fascism [sic]”; and “I hate lgbtq”. 

The vandalism was reported to the local authorities and is under investigation. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout Canada, which have dramatically increased according to a recent audit.

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Man opened fire outside Memphis Jewish school 

Police shot a man after he opened fire with a handgun outside Margolin Hebrew Academy in Memphis, Tennessee. 

The man reportedly tried to enter the school’s premises but was unable to do so due to the double security doors.

He then fled the scene in a pick-up truck, which was later located with the suspect inside the vehicle by local law enforcement. 

When approached by police, the armed man is understood to have gotten out of the truck. Police then shot at the suspect and wounded him before he was taken to hospital. 

Of the failed attack, Dan Crow, Assistant Police Chief of The Memphis Police Department, said: “Thankfully, that school had a great safety procedure and process in place and avoided anyone being harmed or injured at that scene.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Google

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Swastikas discovered at New York playground

Three swastikas have reportedly been discovered at a playground in Nassau County. 

The swastikas were found carved into the playground equipment at the Andrew J. Parise Cedarhurst Park. 

The vandalism is currently under investigation by local law enforcement. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Google

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Man who shared “White Resistance Manual” pleads guilty to terror charges 

A man accused of sharing terror documents online pleaded guilty to terror charges at the Old Bailey on Friday. 

Alfie Stevens, 24 from Surrey Quays, pleaded guilty to three charges of dissemination of a terrorist document. 

Mr Stevens was alleged to have sent the material to two groups called “Band of Brothers” and “White Race Camp” on 27th January 2021. It is understood that one document, named “How To Start And Train A Militia Unit”, was sent to both groups and that another document, entitled the “White Resistance Manual”, was sent to one of the groups. 

According to a prosecutor in California, the White Resistance Manual is “basically a guerrilla warfare manual instructing people on different types of weapons, on creating weapons, on police investigations, basically how to conduct covert urban operations.”

The manual states: “No longer will we allow the Jews to live like parasites upon the body of our race. No longer will we tolerate any Jewish influence in our political system, our legal system or our mass-media.” 

Mr Justice Jeremy Baker, presiding, granted Mr Stevens continued unconditional bail. 

The defendant is due to be sentenced on 13th October whilst a psychological and pre-sentence report is being prepared. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

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British Islamist Anjem Choudary charged with terrorism offences

Anjem Choudary, one of Britain’s leading Islamists, has been charged with three terrorism offences.

The news comes after he was arrested last week.

He has been charged with directing a terrorist organisation, being a member of a proscribed organisation, and addressing meetings to encourage support for a proscribed organisation.

Anjem Choudary, born in the UK and of Pakistani descent, failed his first-year medical exams at the University of Southampton due to his party lifestyle, but eventually graduated in law, later becoming Chairman of the Society of Muslim Lawyers. He became radicalised in the 1990s, launching al-Muhajiroun in the UK – later banned under terror laws – in 1996 with Syrian-born Islamist, Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed.

The Jihadist group became linked to international terrorism, antisemitism and homophobia as it sought a world subject to Sharia law, and praised the 9/11 highjackers. The group disbanded in 2004 following its proscription but is believed to have continued to operate under different aliases. According to The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Choudary was involved in recruiting Muslims to undergo weapons training in the UK in order to fight for Osama Bin Laden’s International Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders, and in 2010 he was linked to those involved in an al Qaeda plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange.

Mr Choudary praised the murderers of Drummer Lee Rigby in 2013, in response to which comments then-Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Let’s be clear about Anjem Choudary: he does have absolutely despicable and appalling views, an absolutely classic case of that poisonous narrative of extremism and violence that we need to confront and defeat.”

In 2016, Mr Choudary was convicted of supporting the Islamic State in connection with speeches posted on YouTube. He was jailed for five years and six months. At the time he was jailed, he had reportedly been linked to fifteen terror plots dating back approximately twenty years, and had connections to hundreds of British jihadists who had travelled to Syria to fight.

He was released from Belmarsh prison after serving half of his sentence, although he remained subject to some 25 licence conditions.

In 2021, he was reported to have suggested that the MP Sir David Amess may have been murdered because of his “rumoured pro-Israel views”.

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2021 showed that almost eight in ten British Jews consider the threat from Islamists to be very serious.

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Antisemitic and homophobic vandalism discovered at Michigan University fraternity houses

Antisemitic and homophobic vandalism has been discovered at two fraternity houses at the University of Michigan. 

The vandalism includes a swastika at one of the locations. The remaining content of the vandalism has not been reported but has been described as “vile”. 

The incidents have been reported to local law enforcement and are currently under investigation. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Google

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Anjem Choudary, one of Britain’s leading Islamists, has been arrested on terrorism charges

One of Britain’s leading Islamists has been arrested on terrorism charges.

Anjem Choudary, born in the UK and of Pakistani descent, failed his first-year medical exams at the University of Southampton due to his party lifestyle, but eventually graduated in law, later becoming Chairman of the Society of Muslim Lawyers. He became radicalised in the 1990s, launching al-Muhajiroun in the UK – later banned under terror laws – in 1996 with Syrian-born Islamist, Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed.

The Jihadist group became linked to international terrorism, antisemitism and homophobia as it sought a world subject to Sharia law, and praised the 9/11 highjackers. The group disbanded in 2004 following its proscription but is believed to have continued to operate under different aliases. According to The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Choudary was involved in recruiting Muslims to undergo weapons training in the UK in order to fight for Osama Bin Laden’s International Islamic Front for Jihad Against Jews and Crusaders, and in 2010 he was linked to those involved in an al Qaeda plot to bomb the London Stock Exchange.

Mr Choudary praised the murderers of Drummer Lee Rigby in 2013, in response to which comments then-Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Let’s be clear about Anjem Choudary: he does have absolutely despicable and appalling views, an absolutely classic case of that poisonous narrative of extremism and violence that we need to confront and defeat.”

In 2016, Mr Choudary was convicted of supporting the Islamic State in connection with speeches posted on YouTube. He was jailed for five years and six months. At the time he was jailed, he had reportedly been linked to fifteen terror plots dating back approximately twenty years, and had connections to hundreds of British jihadists who had travelled to Syria to fight.

He was released from Belmarsh prison after serving half of his sentence, although he remained subject to some 25 licence conditions.

In 2021, he was reported to have suggested that the MP Sir David Amess may have been murdered because of his ‘rumoured pro-Israel views’.

Now, he has reportedly again been arrested in connection with terrorism.

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “Counter-terrorism detectives have arrested two men as part of an investigation into suspected terrorism offences. The officers arrested a 56-year-old man from east London in the area at approximately 05.40am. They arrested a 28-year-old Canadian national at Heathrow airport at approximately 12.35pm after he arrived on a flight from Canada. Both were arrested on suspicion of membership of a proscribed organisation, contrary to section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000. The men are currently being held under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000 at a west London police station. Police searches of three addresses in east London are ongoing.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2021 showed that almost eight in ten British Jews consider the threat from Islamists to be very serious.

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CAA commends Labour’s commitment to proscribe IRGC

The Shadow Home Secretary has announced that a Labour Government would apply a full ban to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an antisemitic Islamist terrorist group.

Campaign Against Antisemitism has previously written to all MPs calling on them to back the Government’s reported proposal, as yet unimplemented, to proscribe the IRGC under the Terrorism Act 2000. We have provided Home Secretary Suella Braverman and Security Minister Tom Tugendhat, and all MPs, with a dossier on the IRGC, detailing its horrendous record of antisemitism and violence against Jewish people.

Now, Yvette Cooper has confirmed that a Labour Government would amend existing terror legislation to “ban hostile state-sponsored organisations who are undermining our national security” as she warned that the UK faces “continued challenges from Islamist and far right extremists, radicalised online, in prison or in the community.”

She argued that, “Instead of trying and failing to use counter terror legislation to proscribe groups like Wagner or IRGC, we’ll introduce a bespoke proscribing mechanism to address state sponsored threats.” She also noted “the persecution of Iranian journalists by the IRGC – including fifteen threats to kidnap or kill on British soil.”

Her speech at the Royal United Services Institute think tank yesterday came after the Government applied an enhanced sanctions regime on Iran but failed to ban the IRGC.

Ms Cooper also observed that “we can’t tackle online radicalisation without stronger action from social media companies,” in an apparent reference to the Government’s Online Safety Bill.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “We commend Yvette Cooper for committing a Labour Government to do what this Government has declined to do so far, namely proscribe the antisemitic Islamist IRGC. However, the ban cannot wait for a general election, and we continue to urge the Government to proscribe the state-sponsored terror group now.”

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Mississippi man charged with cyberstalking and threats following alleged targeting of synagogues and Jewish businesses

A man from Mississippi has been arrested following his alleged targeting of synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses in Pennsylvania. 

The charges faced by Donavon Parish, 28, relate to a series of phone calls that were said to have been made during April and May last year.

During the calls, the defendant is alleged to have made several references to the Holocaust and said: “Heil Hitler”; “all Jews must die”; “we will put you in work camps”; “gas the Jews” and; “Hitler should have finished the job.”

It is understood that one of the targeted businesses was called fifteen times. 

If convicted, Mr Parish faces up to 50 years’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release and a fine of $2.5 million. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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“Seig Heil” swastika graffiti found in children’s park in Nottingham

Graffiti bearing a swastika and the words “Seig Heil [sic]” has been found in a children’s park in Nottingham. 

The incident was first posted by Nottingham Chabad’s Twitter account.

Lillian Greenwood, the Labour Party Member of Parliament for Nottingham South, condemned the vandalism as “dreadful” and “not something I would ever expect to encounter in our city.”

Last week, we reported that graffiti containing swastikas and messages in support of Hitler, as well as anti-Muslim rhetoric, have been scrawled across vehicles in Finsbury Park.

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Antisemitic graffiti discovered at playground in New Jersey

Antisemitic graffiti has been discovered at Town Hall Park in Warren, New Jersey. 

According to reports, residents of the town discovered two separate scrawlings, including a swastika on playground equipment at the park.  

The graffiti has been removed since being reported to the local authorities. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Leanna Wellerding

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Hitler-admiring student who planned explosion is jailed for four years

A man has been sentenced to four years in prison, with an extended licence of one year, after being found guilty of preparing to commit acts of terrorism.

Luke Skelton, nineteen from Washington, was convicted at Teesside Crown Court in May. The jury’s decision came after a previous panel failed to reach a decision.

The court heard that Mr Skelton absorbed far-right ideology whilst researching bomb-making. The student, between the dates of October 2020 and October 2021, carried out a “hostile reconnaissance” of Forth Banks police station in Newcastle, in which he would take photographs and conduct searches for CCTV cameras, whilst he was a student at Gateshead College.

Nicholas De La Poer KC, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Skelton had professed an admiration for Adolf Hitler and Oswald Mosley, and that searches for neo-Nazi content were discovered on his devices. The prosecution said that Mr Skelton posted antisemitic, Islamophobic, homophobic, and other racist and sexist comments online. 

Judge Paul Watson KC, the recorder of Middlesbrough, stated that Mr Skelton was “a committed and active rightwing extremist” who was believed in white supremacy and promoting racial hatred. 

Mr Skelton, who was said to be obsessed with nazism, “made heroes out of those who carry out atrocities in the name of fascism and other extreme rightwing ideologies”.

Judge Watson KC said: “Your fantasy was to turn back the pages of history books to times when such xenophobic and hateful views were tolerated and even admired…Your objective was to cause explosions to provoke what you saw as a coming race war…This was no spur of the moment or impulsive conduct.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Counter Terrorism Policing North East

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New Jersey man pleads guilty to threatening synagogue attack

A New Jersey man pleaded guilty to sending threats of attack to a synagogue. 

Omar Alkattoul, 19, pleaded guilty at a federal court in Trenton, New Jersey, yesterday to “transmitting a threat in interstate and foreign commerce”.

Mr Alkattoul allegedly shared his manifesto, entitled, “When Swords Collide”, on social media. It is understood that in the document itself, he wrote: “I am the attacker and I would like to introduce myself,” and “the motive of this attack is hatred towards Jews and their heinous acts”. 

The manifesto was reported to the authorities by one of the recipients of the document.

When questioned by the police, the defendant reportedly said that the manifesto was written whilst he was “live action role playing” and “imagining being Al-Qaeda”. 

Mr Alkattoul is due to be sentenced on 14th November, where he faces up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Google

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Hasidic man reportedly asked if he is Jewish before being stabbed in violent Brooklyn attack

A Hasidic man was reportedly asked if he is Jewish before being stabbed in a violent Brooklyn attack.

The victim, a Chabad Hasid dressed in religious garb visiting from Israel, was walking through the heavily-Jewish neighbourhood of Crown Heights in New York City on Shabbat morning at 02:00, when, according to a police report, he was approached by two men who asked if he was Jewish.

The two men then allegedly stabbed the victim in the arm with a screwdriver, leaving him with a small puncture wound. He returned home and called medics who took him to hospital, where his condition was described as stable, and he was later released.

Yaacov Behrman, a representative of Chabad Lubavitch Headquarters in Crown Heights, said: “On Friday night, around 2am, a visiting student from Israel was stabbed in the arm with what appears to be a screwdriver. The victim informed me that he was briefly hospitalised. The attack was carried out by two males.” He added that the attack “is currently being investigated as a hate crime. According to the victim, he was questioned about his Jewish identity. Despite being visibly traumatised, the victim expressed gratitude for not having sustained more severe injuries. This incident is deeply concerning, and we have full confidence in the NYPD’s ability to conduct a thorough investigation and apprehend the perpetrators.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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First alleged neo-Nazi placed under Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures Act

A man in his twenties known only as LXB, who has become the first alleged neo-Nazi to be placed under special government measures, has pleaded guilty to breaching the terms of the act.

According to the Home Office, the Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures (TPIM) Act “protects the public from individuals who pose a real terrorist threat, but whom we cannot prosecute or, in the case of foreign nationals, deport.”

Those placed under the measures are provided with legal anonymity and referred to using a cipher. The individuals may be required to wear an electronic tag or relocate to different parts of the country. They might also face bans or limitations on who they can meet, where they may travel, and internet usage.

Details of those placed under the TPIM Act are reportedly only ever divulged when they appear in court over breaches or for High Court reviews of the measures.

LXB is the 29th person to be placed under the act, with the 28 others all being reported for Islamist-related terrorism. 

The man appeared at the Old Bailey via video link on Friday where he pleaded guilty to two breaches of the TPIM Act by having a video camera and memory card without prior approval from the Home Office.

LXB has had “serious previous convictions”, according to Kate Wilkinson, prosecuting.

He is due to be sentenced in August.

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

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Arsenal supporter who shouted “Hitler should have finished the job” sentenced

An Arsenal Football Club supporter who shouted “Hitler should have finished the job” was sentenced today at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.

Daniel Down, 29, pleaded guilty and was sentenced for using threatening, abusive, distressing words at a football match on 15th January 2023 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

The charges, which were racially or religiously aggravated, were brought against him by the Crown Prosecution Service after he shouted “Hitler should have finished the job” at a match between Arsenal Football Club and Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

The prosecution noted that the victim, who reported the incident to the police, had immediately told Mr Down that he took “great offence” at what Mr Down said and explained that members of his family had died in the Holocaust. 

The prosecution also noted that Mr Down had apologised to the victim immediately and had attended a police interview without legal counsel. 

Upon sentencing, the Judge said: “Mr Down, what you did was egregious in the extreme…You are a young man of 29, you ought to have known better.” 

In light of his plea and apology to the victim, the Judge gave Mr Down a court order that bans him from attending football matches in the UK for three years. He was also ordered to pay a total of £471 in fines, which includes a victim surcharge of £110. 

Earlier this year, Arsenal Football Club launched a new affiliate called “Jewish Gooners”, partly in response to antisemitism among supporters.

Campaign Against Antisemitism continues to report on and act against instances of anti-Jewish racism in all sports.

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Neo-Nazi podcasters who encouraged listeners to commit violence convicted of terror offences

Two neo-Nazi podcast hosts who made antisemitic statements and encouraged their listeners to commit acts of violence during episodes of their programme have been convicted of terror offences. 

Christopher Gibbons, 38, and Tyrone Pattern-Walsh, 34, were found guilty of encouraging acts of terrorism on Friday at Kingston Crown Court. 

They were both arrested on 18th May 2021 and then charged on 21st August the same year, after they were identified as the hosts of the neo-Nazi podcast. 

On the podcast, “Black Wolf Radio”, Mr Gibbons described Archie, the son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as an “abomination that should be put down.” 

The pair recorded 21 episodes, during which they were found to have produced antisemitic, homophobic, misogynistic and Islamophobic content. 

Among the content were descriptions of the victims of the Manchester Arena bombing as “sluts” and praise for the Christchurch mosque shooter, Brenton Tarrant.

Following their arrests, Mr Gibbons was found to have an online library titled “The Radicalisation Library”, which contained over 500 pieces of extreme right-wing material. 

Anne Whyte QC, prosecuting, said of the defendants: “[They] are men who hold extreme right-wing views. They are dedicated and unapologetic white supremacists. They thought that if they used the format of a radio show, as good as in plain sight, they could pass off their venture as the legitimate exercise of their freedom of speech. 

“In fact what they were doing was using language designed to encourage others to commit acts of extreme right wing terrorism against the sections of society that these defendants hated.”

Of the conviction, Commander Dominic Murphy, who works for the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism command, said: “Gibbons and Patten-Walsh thought that the fact they were airing their hateful views and advocating terrorist acts in plain sight, on a radio and podcast platform, somehow gave them some legitimacy and meant they wouldn’t face any consequences.

“They were wrong, and both our investigation and a jury has found that they sought to encourage terrorism in how they expressed their abhorrent extreme right-wing views.”

Both Mr Gibbons and Mr Pattern-Walsh are due to be sentenced at Kingston Crown Court on 26th September. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Metropolitan Police 

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Teenager who allegedly conducted research into Hove synagogue charged with eleven terrorism offences

A teenager who allegedly conducted online research into the Hove Hebrew Congregation synagogue has been charged with eleven terrorism offences.

Mason Reynolds, eighteen from Brighton, has been charged with five counts of collecting information which could be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, five counts of dissemination of terrorist publications, and one count of possessing an article for the purpose of terrorism.

Mr Reynolds is due to appear at the Old Bailey next week.

A spokesperson for Counter Terrorism Policing Southeast said the charges against Reynolds were linked to an “extreme right-wing ideology.” 

In a statement, the CST said: “After his arrest this week, we were informed by the police that the defendant had allegedly conducted online research into Hove Hebrew Congregation (Holland Road Synagogue). The defendant has been remanded in custody and at this stage, there is no indication that anybody else was involved. The threat of terrorism faced by Jewish communities is the reason why security remains an essential part of Jewish communal life. 

“We have been working closely with counter-terrorism police, Hove Hebrew Congregation and Sussex Jewish Representative Council to ensure appropriate measures are in place.” 

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Ottawa man faces terror charges with alleged links to neo-Nazi group

A man in Ottawa has been charged in relation to terrorism and hate propaganda following allegations of links to the neo-Nazi group, Atomwaffen Division. 

Patrick Gordon Macdonald, 26, faces three charges, namely participating in activity of a terrorist group, facilitating terrorist activity, and commission of offence for a terrorist group.

Mr Macdonald is alleged to have created videos that were intended to recruit new members for the organisation and encourage acts of terrorism.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said: “The case is the first in Canada in which an individual advocating a violent far-right ideology has been charged with both terrorism and hate propaganda.”

The Canadian Public Safety Department listed the Atomwaffen Division as a terrorist group in 2021. 

The organisation is a paramilitary neo-Nazi group that trains its members in the use of firearms and reportedly seeks to ignite a race war. 

In January 2022, Atomwaffen Division leader, Kaleb Cole, was sentenced to seven years in prison in connection with a plot to target journalists and activists.

In 2021, the UK proscribed Atomwaffen Division as a terrorist organisation.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout Canada, which have dramatically increased according to a recent audit.

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Swastikas, Hitler graffiti, and anti-Muslim rhetoric scrawled across vehicles in Finsbury Park

Graffiti containing swastikas and messages in support of Hitler, as well as anti-Muslim rhetoric, have been scrawled across vehicles in Finsbury Park.

The letters ‘HH’, often used to mean ‘Heil Hitler’, can be seen in bright pink marker, alongside the Nazi hate symbol. 

The vandal also wrote: “Muslims deserve to go to hell”.

The incident was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 2343 06/07/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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2,480 antisemitic incidents reported in Germany in 2022

A body that monitors antisemitism in Germany reported that 2,480 antisemitic incidents occurred in 2022.

The Department for Research and Information on Antisemitism, or RIAS, also reported that despite the overall number of incidents decreasing slightly in comparison to 2021, there were nine incidents of extreme violence, representing the highest ever number since national records started being taken in 2017. 

Felix Klein, the German Government’s Commissioner to Combat Antisemitism, highlighted Germany’s cultural sector as being particularly problematic. 

For example, last year the Director of Documenta, the quinquennial art festival held in the German city of Kassel, resigned after the fifteenth edition of the festival displayed works that contained inflammatory references toward Jews.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism in Germany.

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Leamington Spa man who posted in “Kill All the Jews” group given seven years in jail for building submachine gun

A man who supported “extreme right-wing ideology” has been jailed after he was found to have been building a submachine gun.

Ben Styles, 25 from Leamington Spa, was found not guilty of preparing an act of terrorism but was convicted of possessing material that could be used for terrorism purposes and for possessing a prohibited weapon.

Mr Styles was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Birmingham Crown Court heard that Mr Styles posted in an online group called “#Kill All the Jews”, and had begun building a submachine gun to use against Jewish people. He reportedly referred to the Holocaust as a ‘Holohoax’, and posted in the online group: “I hope the Holocaust is real next time.”

Prosecutors said that Mr Styles told his friend that he was “just getting as strong as possible for the war” and sent screenshots of his phone which used images of swastikas for the background.

Referring to his phone’s background image, Mr Styles reportedly told his friend: “Waking up and seeing this lock screen to start my day is far more important than some non-person NHS clapper shouting at me about primary school history.”

Mr Styles reportedly said of the New Zealand Christchurch terrorist attack:  “I just got back from New Zealand – it made me super racist. Then that happened and I had a good day.”

Prosecutor Matthew Brook told the court that a Nazi fitness manual and a book titled “The SS family yearly – celebrations of the SS family” was found in Mr Styles’ garage, along with the lower part and top part of a homemade submachine gun and shop-bought blanks with manuals which “showed the reader how to convert blank bullets into functioning live ammunition”.

Mr Brook continued: “In this case, the evidence will prove that the defendant, Ben Styles, fully believed in extreme right-wing ideology. That is the twisted ideology of Nazis and white supremacy.”

Detective Superintendent Anastasia Miller, from Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, said: “Styles was making a submachine gun and ammunition, he also knowingly downloaded and possessed extremely distressing and disturbing imagery. We will continue to protect local communities by working with partners and the CPS to pursue and prosecute all those who show support for terrorism. 

“We work tirelessly to counter terrorism. Our absolute priority is to ensure the safety and security of the people who live, work and visit the West Midlands area.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism has been monitoring and acting against the threat from the far-right for years and continues to support the authorities following suit.

Image credit: West Midlands Police

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Member of far-right group Patriotic Alternative who told Telegram followers Hitler did “nothing wrong” is jailed

A member of the far-right group Patriotic Alternative who said that Adolf Hitler did “nothing wrong” has been jailed.

Kristofer Thomas Kearney, 39, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday where he pleaded guilty to two counts of disseminating terrorist publications. 

Mr Kearney was described as an “alleged far-right fitness guru” who operated under the online moniker of Charlie Big Potatoes. Originally from Liverpool, he was living in Alicante when he was extradited in September to face charges.

In March, Mr Kearney entered his pleas at the Old Bailey by way of video link from HM Prison Chelmsford, pleading guilty to two offences of disseminating terrorist publications, both in relation to two Telegram posts on 23rd January and 8th March 2021. The documents reportedly glorified and encouraged extreme right-wing terror attacks.

Mr Kearney posted links to 89 extremist documents in the Charlie Big Potatoes Telegram channel, including the manifestos of the Christchurch mosque shooter, Brenton Tarrant, the Norwegian neo-Nazi terrorist, Anders Breivik, and the shooter responsible for the Chabad of Poway Synagogue attack, John T. Earnest. 

Prosecutors said that posts made by Mr Kearney, who is alleged to have acted as ‘head of fitness’ within Patriotic Alternative, also described Jewish people as “responsible for a lot of the world’s ills.” 

Mr Kearney was said to have been a regular host on the Patriotic Talk podcast and is understood to have set up a fitness channel named “Fascist Fitness”.

The podcast host reportedly sent messages to Telegram users claiming that Hitler did “nothing wrong,” and posted quotes from the dictator in a private chat group called “west is best”.

Ged O’Connor, defending, described Mr Kearney’s behaviour as “reckless” rather than an active promotion of terrorism, but prosecutor Naomi Parsons refuted this, stating that “There are numerous videos that suggest violence is looming, violence is inevitable. The evidence is consistent with intent rather than recklessness.”

It was also said that Mr Kearney was a member of the far-right group, National Action, which was proscribed by the British Government in 2016 following repeated calls by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others.

Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Kearney brazenly posted abhorrent extremist material online, advertising it to hundreds of people who followed his account. He may have thought that, being in Spain, he could act with impunity. However, he was wrong – our officers travelled to Spain to arrest Kearney, and had him extradited so he could face these charges. As part of our investigation, we worked with the Spanish Police and their assistance was invaluable.”

Judge Richard Marks KC, speaking to Mr Kearney, said: “In this country, we have lived for many years in a multicultural society which most people regard as being enriching. Right-thinking members of any society regard tolerance, kindness, understanding and inclusivity to everyone regardless of their background as being of absolutely fundamental importance. Much of the material that you posted entirely negates those values and is extreme, vile, inflammatory, divisive and deeply offensive.”

Mr Kearney was sentenced to four years and eight months’ imprisonment, with a two-year extended licence period. He was also handed a notification requirement for a period of ten years.

Patriotic Alternative is a UK-based group headed by the former leader of the youth wing of the BNP, Mark Collett. Mr Collett is reported to have dabbled in Holocaust denial, is regularly heard as a guest on the radio show of the former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard, David Duke, and has described the Holocaust as “an instrument of white guilt”.

The group is known for its efforts to recruit youth to its white nationalist ideology. Previously, the far-right group published an online “alternative” home school curriculum condemned as “poison” and “hateful” and attempted to recruit children as young as twelve through livestreaming events on YouTube, according to The Times.

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: Metropolitan Police

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Melbourne fire department chief photographed giving nazi salute returns to work

A Melbourne fire department chief, who was investigated after a photo of him performing a nazi salute was discovered, has returned to work.

Jewish fireman Aaron Starkey filed a federal complaint against Chief Jody Kohler in late April in connection with the photograph.

Mr Starkey had previously complained about the photograph to his union president, but claimed that nothing was done about it.

The City of Melbourne released a statement explaining its decision to reinstate Chief Kahler: “The inappropriate photograph was apparently taken approximately fifteen or sixteen years ago (it appears in the summer of 2007), and that those involved were not intentionally acting with any kind of racist or antisemitic intent or bias.”

Mr Starkey’s attorney reacted to the decision, saying: “MFD [Melbourne Fire Department] has decided to not hold anyone accountable for this behaviour: Not the subject in the photo, the person(s) who took the photo, or the person(s) that disseminated it. The date that the photo was taken is irrelevant because the person in the photo is employed as a Battalion Chief. This is a sad day for the MFD, city leadership, and the residents of the City of Melbourne.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide.

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Man who reportedly defended Hitler and handed out flyers to Larkhall schoolchildren fined for assaulting student

A man who reportedly defended Adolf Hitler and handed out flyers to schoolchildren has been fined £290 for assaulting a student in Larkhall, Scotland.  

Darren Hurrel, 21, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court where he admitted assaulting a fourteen-year-old boy last year.

A video on Twitter appears to show Mr Hurrel speaking with schoolchildren in which he says: “Hitler wanted a country for white people. He also wanted a country for every other people.

“And, obviously, there was a small group of people who controlled all of the media, all of the banks, and this small group…they promoted pornography, promoted cultural Marxism, and it destroyed Germany. Hitler took control of the media and the banks and put the interests of the German people first.”

When asked by a student “if the Holocaust is real,” Mr Hurrel replied: “No, it is not.”

His t-shirt appeared to be adorned with a Nazi sonnendrad, or sun wheel, symbol. 

Later on in the video, an apparent confrontation takes place between Mr Hurrel and a student, prompting him to decry “I’m here to help you.” His manner then becomes aggressive and he states: “What the f*** are you gonna do?”

Mr Hurrel admitted that he knocked the student down after being sprayed with a liquid.

Video footage shows Mr Hurrel being chased by a group of students as they threw cans and bottles at him.

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

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Swastika carving found outside East London church

A carving of a swastika carving has been found outside St Dunstan’s Church in East London church.

The hate symbol was accompanied by the words “Hail [sic] Hitler”.

Tower Hamlets Council confirmed that the matter is being looked into as a matter of urgency.

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CAA to write to Brent Council after second memorial tree to Jewish refugees snapped in possible antisemitic incident

A second memorial tree to Jewish refugees has been snapped in what some locals are claiming is an incident of antisemitic vandalism in Wembley.

The Memorial Tree, dedicated by the Association of Jewish Refugees at King Edward VII Park in Brent in North London, has reportedly been snapped by hand.

The incident comes after the first memorial tree, planted in 2021, was also destroyed, and in May 2022 its plaque was smeared with dog excrement.

A replacement tree was recently planted and the plaque was positioned for protection behind wire fencing. It, however, has now also been targeted.

We are grateful to the members of the community who brought this to our attention.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “The evidence suggests that this damage is deliberate, and, coming after a similar incident of vandalism against the previous memorial, represents a disturbing pattern of hate. The police must investigate. We shall also be writing to the local authority.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Antisemitism Barometer 2021 showed that over two thirds of British Jews believe that the authorities, in general, are not doing enough to address and punish antisemitism.

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Swastika graffiti discovered in New Jersey park 

Swastika graffiti has been discovered in a park in Clifton, New Jersey.

City Manager Nick Villano said that the spray-painted symbols were discovered on the door of a portable toilet and on picnic tables.

The park is located near Mesivta of Clifton, a Jewish high school.

The vandals are yet to be found.

Officials have stated that this was one of many antisemitic incidents reported in recent weeks. 

Former City Council candidate and local resident Stephen Goldberg said: “We need to get serious about addressing antisemitism”, adding that Clifton should adopt the International Definition of Antisemitism. 

According to the FBI, over 60 percent of hate crimes against a religious minority are motivated by antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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Following action from CAA, former barrister Ian Millard appears in court over five offences contrary to Communications Act

Following action from Campaign Against Antisemitism, the former barrister Ian Millard appeared at Southampton Magistrates’ Court today as he is set to be prosecuted for five offences contrary to section 127 (1)(a) Communications Act 2003 in relation to the posting of grossly offensive material relating to his assertions regarding the Jewish race on his blog.

The charges relate to five blog entries dated between May 2021 to April 2022. Mr Millard is said to have posted the entries to his website. The comments he is alleged to have made include:

  • “Where Jews exist in any but very small numbers, non-Jews will always be exploited, and can never be free. That is as true in Europe (and including the UK) as it is in the Middle East.” 
  • “Wherever Jews have power, non-Jews eventually become victims or slaves.”

In October 2016, the Bar Standards Board found Mr Millard to be guilty of professional misconduct due to his extensive use of Twitter as a vehicle to publicise his antisemitic and extreme right-wing views, leading to him being banned from the profession.

In April 2021, Campaign Against Antisemitism’s Director of Investigations and Enforcement handed a dossier of evidence collected from Mr Millard’s blog to Hampshire Police.

Nine months later, we were informed that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) would be taking no further action. This decision was challenged via the Victims’ Right to Review scheme.

In April of this year, fifteen months after the submission to the scheme was made, we were informed that the CPS intended to prosecute Mr Millard.

Mr Millard, who confirmed that he will be representing himself in court, stated that he would be entering a plea of “not guilty” and is set to face trial later this year.

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“Heil Hitler” and swastika graffiti discovered in Poole

Graffiti of a swastika and the phrase “Heil Hitler”, as well as the logo of the British far-right National Front party, has been discovered in Poole.

The graffiti was scrawled on the wall of the underpass at the Ashdown Roundabout, near Asda. 

Rabbi Maurice Michaels of Bournemouth Reform Synagogue said: “It’s horrendous, really, to think that here in Bournemouth where the various faiths all work together closely and amicably, we should find that antisemitism has reared its ugly head again. It will make some members of the Jewish community afraid to put themselves around the place, because graffiti of this nature can so often lead to violence. We’ve certainly seen that in other places.”

A spokesperson for Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole Council said: “BCP Council is determined to tackle anti-social behaviour and graffiti and vandalism are illegal, anti-social activities. We are working with Dorset Police, security and Anti-Social Behaviours officers to address this.”

Image credit: Martin Byrne

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Antisemitic graffiti discovered on synagogue and private home in Massachusetts 

Ansemitic graffiti has been discovered on a synagogue and private home in Taunton, Massachusetts. 

Police Chief Edward J. Walsh said that it appears that the two locations were targeted by the same vandals. 

The Rabbi of the synagogue, Agudath Achim, said: “In our 115 years of history, this has never happened, and now, sadly, we’ve become another statistic of antisemitism and hate that is prevalent in Massachusetts.”

According to the FBI, over 60 percent of hate crimes against a religious minority are motivated by antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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Swastika graffiti discovered in special-needs children’s gym 

Swastika graffiti has been discovered in a special-needs children’s gym in Tucson, Arizona. 

Destiny Wagner, owner of local gym We Rock the Spectrum, filed a police report and the graffiti has since been cleaned. 

Mrs Wagner reportedly said that she often works with the Jewish community, and felt that the graffiti was “personal.”

The vandals are yet to be found. 

According to the FBI, over 60 percent of hate crimes against a religious minority are motivated by antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Destiny Wagner

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Leeds tenant sentenced after bombarding landlord with antisemitic e-mails following eviction notice

A Leeds tenant has been sentenced after pleading guilty in connection with antisemitic e-mails to her landlord following an eviction notice.

Julie Ann Rycroft, 66 and now of Garforth, was accused by a judge at Leeds Crown Court of having “lost all sense of rationality” after she sent 148 e-mails over four months. The substance of the e-mails was, according to the prosecution, “grossly offensive, antisemitic and racially aggravated.”

Ms Rycroft, who has no previous convictions, had been living in a rented property in Rothwell in early 2020 when the premises were taken over by a new landlord, who issued her with a Section 21 notice, effectively declining to renew her lease.

She then proceeded to send e-mails and voicemail messages to the landlord’s solicitor, calling the landlord a “bastard” and “a piece of s***,” while also making references to him being Jewish.

She reportedly ignored a warning from West Yorkshire Police in September 2020, and in November 2020 admitted sending the e-mails but denied being racist, insisting that the language merely reflected “how she talked” and explaining that it arose from the stress of the eviction. However, she then sent a significant batch of offensive e-mails in the first half of 2022.

She was then arrested in July 2022, admitting again that she had sent the e-mails but denying that they were racially-aggravated.

She eventually pleaded guilty, however, to two counts of racially-aggravated harassment and one of simple harassment.

Judge Simon Batiste said that her conduct merited a custodial sentence, but, despite observing that she had “little victim awareness” and “little or no remorse”, gave her an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for two years. In addition, she was given ten rehabilitation days and a ten-year restraining order, banning her from contacting the landlord or the employees of the property’s management company.

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

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Arrest made following report of Jewish passengers abused on bus in Manchester

An arrest has been made following a report that Jewish passengers were abused on a bus in Manchester.

The alleged incident occurred on the 98 bus Go North West bus service from Shudehill station to Bury when a man reportedly verbally assaulted Jewish passengers before spitting on the driver. 

Greater Manchester Police Traffic wrote on Twitter: “We won’t tolerate this, the offender was located dancing at a bus stop on the route and we obliged by waltzing him off to custody.”

Image credit: Greater Manchester Police Traffic

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Online troll taunted sister of Hillsborough disaster victim, including tweet about “Jewish rapists”

An online troll who taunted a woman whose brother died in the fatal 1989 crush at Hillsborough Stadium has been sentenced.

Zakir Hussain, 28, had pleaded guilty to five counts of sending messages on a public communication network that were grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene, or menacing character. He was handed a fourteen-week jail sentence, suspended for a year, following a slew of abusive Twitter messages he posted in April 2020.

London’s Stratford Magistrates’ Court heard how the tweets targeting Louise Brookes were timed to coincide with the anniversary of the infamous disaster, with one comment referring to “Jewish rapists”.

In another tweet, he threatened to vandalise her brother Andrew’s grave with urine and faeces.

In addition to the suspended sentence, District Judge Shanta Deonarine ordered Mr Hussain to undertake 200 hours of community work and pay £500 compensation to Ms Brookes, stating that “I do find there was substantial distress caused.”

Ms Brookes spoke candidly of the effect that the trolling had taken on her mental health.

She told the court. “I suffer with depression, anxiety, panic attacks and PTSD. I have been prescribed by my GP to take Prozac and propranolol to try and control my depression, anxiety and panic attacks. I am taking the highest dose allowable,” before going on to say that there were some days that she “seriously considered killing myself because I just can’t take anymore”.

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Four men on trial charged with plotting terrorist attacks at Jewish sites in France

Four young men have been put on trial, charged with plotting terrorist attacks at Jewish sites in France. 

Prosecutors have stated that the group conspired together via a group chat titled “Operation WaffenKraft”. The Waffen-SS was the paramilitary branch of the Nazi Party.

The targets discussed on the group chat allegedly included the office of the anti-Jewish discrimination league (LICRA) and the headquarters of the Jewish council (CRIF). 

The group’s alleged leader, Alexandre Gilet, was a volunteer deputy police officer who was arrested after authorities discovered that he had ordered equipment that could be used to make explosives. Investigators reportedly found “regularly used” weapons, including two assault rifles, and lab equipment in his home.

Prosecutors also claim to have found photographs that appear to show the four suspects practising shooting in a forest in the summer of 2018.

According to a report by the French Jewish Community Security Service, antisemitic incidents in France have skyrocketed.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism in France and throughout Europe.

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Michigan teenager charged with threatening synagogue massacre

A teenager in Pickford, Michigan has been arrested for allegedly threatening to attack a synagogue.

Seann Patrick Pietila, 19, was charged with transmitting a communication containing a threat to injure another. 

Prosecutors claim that Mr Pietila planned to target the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue in East Lansing.

Mr Pietila allegedly made these threats on social media, on which he also reportedly espoused neo-Nazi rhetoric and celebrated the 2019 Christchruch mosque shootings.

After arresting Mr Pietila at his home, the FBI reportedly found weapons, knives, a Nazi flag, tactical equipment and provisional plans for attacking the synagogue on 15th March 2024.

Shaarey Zedek’s Rabbi Amy Bigman of Shaarey Zedek stated: “We wanted our congregation to know that federal, state and local authorities are aware of the situation that didn’t happen because our law enforcement was on top of things, which we are thankful for.”

According to the FBI, over 60 percent of hate crimes against a religious minority are motivated by antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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Argentina seeks arrest of four Lebanese citizens in connection with 1994 AMIA bombing

Argentina is seeking an international arrest warrant for four Lebanese citizens suspected of involvement in the 1994 bombing of a Jewish centre in Buenos Aires.

The July 1994 attack resulted in the death of 85 and injured hundreds, after a truck containing explosives crashed into the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA).

The four men, Hussein Mounir Mouzannar, Ali Hussein Abdallah, Farouk Abdul Hay Omairi and Abdallah Salman, are accused of being “employees or operational agents” of the antisemitic genocidal terrorist group Hizballah, which is believed to have carried out the attack.

According to court documents, Mr Salman is suspected of “the coordination of the arrival and departure of the [Hizballah] operational group” that conducted the attack.

There have long been accusations of failure and corruption on the part of the Argentine authorities in delivering justice for the victims of the heinous AMIA bombing.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism worldwide. 

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Robert Bowers found guilty on all 63 charges in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial

The trial of the suspect in the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting has concluded, with Robert Bowers being found guilty on all 63 charges, which include eleven counts of obstruction of free exercise of religion resulting in death.

Other charges included willfully causing bodily injury because of actual or perceived religion, use and discharge of a firearm to murder and use and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Mr Bowers, 50, opened fire inside the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh on 27th October 2018 – a Shabbat morning – armed with an AR-15-style assault rifle and multiple handguns. 

From the three congregations sharing the building that Shabbat morning – Dor Hadash, New Light, and the Tree of Life – eleven worshippers were killed and six were injured, including four police officers.

Mr Bowers’ social media footprint demonstrated a history of fueling antisemitism and expressing hateful rhetoric. Mr Bowers was said to be particularly active on the platform Gab, where in his bio he asserted that “Jews are the children of Satan.”

During the trial, Rabbi Jonathan Perlman took the witness stand, reportedly wearing the same skullcap that he wore the day that Mr Bowers attacked the synagogue, which the police only recently returned to Rabbi Perlman after holding it as evidence for years.

Jurors deliberated for less than one day, and will now consider whether he should receive the death penalty. 

Antisemitic stickers were reportedly found in a Pittsburgh park the day the trial began, and have since been removed. 

According to the FBI, over 60 percent of hate crimes against a religious minority are motivated by antisemitism.

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Nearly five years ago, the peace of the Jewish Sabbath was shattered when a terrorist targeted innocent worshippers at a synagogue in Pittsburgh. Robert Bowers, a murderous and obsessive antisemite, has rightfully been found guilty today. While nothing can repair the pain inflicted, we await news of his sentence in due course, and hope that a forceful message will be sent to others like him who wish Jews dead. May the memories of those who fell be a blessing.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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Yiddish LGBTQ+ cafe in Glasgow closes down, citing antisemitic incidents 

A Glasgow eatery, self-described as a “queer Yiddish anarchist café”, has closed down, citing antisemitic incidents as one of the reasons for its closure.

On the website of the Pink Peacock cafe, a statement describes the “burnout” of its staff, in part due to antisemitism.

The statement read: “We have received a frankly astonishing amount of antisemitic vitriol over the last three years from self-described leftists who have doxxed us, harassed us online and off, and spread rumors about us being ‘landlord’ ‘bosses’ ‘profiting off the holocaust’ and ‘s***ing in mailboxes’.” 

It added that “Several of our members have moved away or are planning to move soon, in part due to the Jewish isolation, unchecked antisemitism in Scotland and the impact of this harassment.”

Earlier this month, the cafe tweeted about how attempts were made to alienate staff members due to their Jewishness.

The cafe wrote: “One really persistent element of antisemitism we face is the idea that jews are not part of the community. We’re foreigners and outsiders regardless of where we come from. For example, our mentions are full of people saying that ‘the community’ is glad we’re closing.”

It continued by saying that its Jewish staff members constantly faced accusations of being “rich”, “middle class” or “gentrifiers”. 

“Of course, gentrification is when rich foreigners move into the neighbourhood, and jews are foreign, and jews are rich!” the cafe wrote. 

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Florida rabbi harassed at school board meeting

A rabbi was harassed while leaving a school board meeting in Naples, Florida. 

Rabbi Adam Miller, Senior Rabbi at Temple Shalom, reported that he was yelled at and followed by two men whose tone was “very hateful and angry.”

“Judaism is wrong” and “You’re on the path to sin,” were amongst the phrases that Rabbi Miller detailed in his police report.

Rabbi Miller explained that he had attended the meeting as he felt that it was necessary to speak out against candidate Charles Van Zant, who has reportedly argued that “unchurched, uncultured Americans” were a cause of the country’s “moral decline.”

The men who accosted him are said to have been wearing badges supporting Mr Van Zant.

Rabbi Miller has described what he views as a “rising concern” about antisemitism: “We keep seeing these things, and nothing’s really being addressed.”

According to the FBI, over 60 percent of hate crimes against a religious minority are motivated by antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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Identifiably Jewish man reportedly subjected to verbal abuse on London Underground

An identifiably Jewish man was reportedly subjected to threatening gestures and verbal abuse on the London Underground.

The suspect was described as being a man of slim build, approximately six feet tall, and wearing dark clothing.

The alleged incident occurred on 12th June at 14:45 on the Piccadilly Line from Hyde Park Corner, and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: 6542093/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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Trial of defendants in “Khaybar” chant case inexplicably delayed until four years after alleged incident

The trial of two men who have been charged with stirring up racial hatred after they reportedly performed the “Khaybar” chant at a London protest in 2021 has inexplicably been delayed until four years after the alleged incident.

A trial date set for May 2025 was decided this afternoon at Isleworth Crown Court.

Last month, the defendants pleaded “not guilty” at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

The chant “Khaybar Khaybar, ya yahud, Jaish Muhammad, sa yahud” can be translated in English as “Jews, remember the battle of Khaybar, the army of Muhammad is returning.”

The “Khaybar” chant is a classic Arabic battle cry referencing the massacre and expulsion of the Jews of the town of Khaybar in northwestern Arabia, now Saudi Arabia, in the year 628 CE. The chant has been heard in numerous anti-Israel rallies in Britain and abroad.

Khaldoun Ahmad El-Ali, 27, and Mohammad Jihad Al Safi, 25, had the charges brought against them after they were identified by CST.

The pair have been released on unconditional bail until the preliminary hearing scheduled for later this year.

A CST spokesman said at the time: “CST welcomes these charges and thanks the police for all the work they have done on this investigation following our original complaint. We hope this sends out a powerful signal regarding chanting on anti-Israel protests.”

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Jewish residents reportedly harassed with “Hitler” and “Free Palestine” comments in communal garden

Jewish residents in Stamford Hill have reportedly been harassed with comments such as “Hitler” and “Free Palestine” from people in their communal garden.

The suspects are believed to live in flats on Holmleigh Road.

The alleged incident occurred on 10th and 11th June and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: 4615739/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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Swastika graffiti discovered in Bournemouth 

Swastika graffiti was discovered in Bournemouth by a Jewish family on holiday this past weekend.

The incident was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 8220/12JUN23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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Jewish women reportedly targeted with antisemitic abuse on London bus

A man reportedly made Jewish women the targets of antisemitic abuse on a London bus.

The alleged incident was said to have taken place on 9th June at 14:00 on the 106 bus towards Stamford Hill, and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 4080/11JUN23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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Solihull man who shared neo-Nazi material about Jews sentenced to prison

A man who shared neo-Nazi material about Jews has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty of stirring up hatred.

Richard Osborne, 53 from Solihull, shared far-right content which took aim at Jewish people and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

He received a sentence of three years and ten months after he pleaded guilty to two counts of publishing material intended to provoke racial hatred and homophobia.

He also expressed support for the neo-Nazi terrorist group National Action. The group was proscribed by the British Government following repeated calls by Campaign Against Antisemitism and others.

In a search of Mr Osborne’s home, police discovered a shotgun under his bed and he was charged with possession without a license. Additionally, a baton that was made from a metal bar was found in his car, leading to a further charge of possession of an offensive weapon in a public place.

During a court appearance last month, Mr Osborne pleaded guilty to all charges.

Detective Superintendent Anastasia Miller, from Counter-Terrorism Police West Midlands, said: “By pleading guilty, Osborne admitted he held extreme far-right views and through our investigation we were able to provide clear evidence he supported white supremacists as well as a proscribed far-right group banned by the Government. Someone who holds extreme views against those that don’t look like him or hold the same views is not welcome in our society. 

“Today’s sentence should be a clear message to those who intend to spread hate and terror, we will continue to work with partners and the CPS to protect our communities by pursuing and prosecuting such individuals. We work tirelessly to counter terrorism. Our absolute priority is to ensure the safety and security of the people who live, work and visit the West Midlands area.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.

Image credit: West Midlands Police

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Elderly Jewish man walking with wife and grandchild reportedly punched in the eye by cyclist in London

An identifiably Jewish man, who was walking with his wife and nine-month-old grandchild, was reportedly punched in the eye by a cyclist in north London. 

It was also reported that the man was treated by Hatzola, the Jewish volunteer medical service, before having to go to the hospital for further treatment.

The alleged incident was said to have taken place on 8th June at 15:15 on the River Lea pathway, at the bottom of Saw Mill Way, and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 3715/11Jun23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

Image credit: Google

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“This is what you deserve”: Identifiably Jewish children allegedly victims of assault

Two identifiably Jewish children have allegedly been made the victims of an assault.

The suspect, described as a man in a white top, reportedly wiped his dirty hands on one of the children’s clothes before saying: “This is what you deserve.”

The alleged incident was said to have taken place on 8th June at 17:15 on the corner of Cranwich Road and Denver Road and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CAD 3715/11Jun23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

Image credit: Google

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Jewish women and children reportedly chased and assaulted by man yelling antisemitic slurs in Stamford Hill

Jewish women and children were reportedly chased and assaulted by a man yelling antisemitic slurs in Stamford Hill.

The suspect has been described as being a man of around 25 years of age.

The alleged incident was said to have taken place on 31st May at 9:30 outside Berry’s The Kosher Food Store and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: 4614772/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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Jewish man reportedly struck after being accosted for cigarette

A Jewish man in Stamford Hill was reportedly struck after being accosted for a cigarette.

The suspect, who is also accused of yelling antisemitic slurs, has been described as being a slim, short man of around 25 years of age who wore a blue jacket and black trousers.

The alleged incident was said to have taken place on 1st June at 9:30 on the corner of Stamford Hill and Linthorpe Road and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: 4614532/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

Image credit: Google

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Jewish man allegedly assaulted leaving synagogue in North London

A Jewish man was allegedly assaulted whilst leaving a synagogue in the north London area of Stamford Hill.

He was said to have been shoved by a slim man around 25 years of age in a blue jacket who yelled “F*** Jew”.

The alleged incident was said to have taken place on 3rd June at 12:10 and was reported by Stamford Hill Shomrim, the Jewish volunteer neighbourhood watch patrol.

If you have any more information, please contact the police on 101 or Stamford Hill Shomrim on 0300 999 0123, quoting reference number: CRIS: 4614771/23

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

Campaign Against Antisemitism works closely with Shomrim, with whom we have an information-sharing agreement.

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CAA launches witness appeal following video of man swearing and saying “f*** Jews” on London bus

Campaign Against Antisemitism has launched a witness appeal following video footage of a man swearing at someone and saying “f*** Jews”.

This incident reportedly took place this past weekend on the 56 bus to St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

Campaign Against Antisemitism is in touch with the victim and providing assistance. Those with information should e-mail [email protected].

The footage was originally uploaded by StopAntisemitism.org.

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Antisemitic graffiti discovered on footbridge in New Jersey

Antisemitic graffiti has been discovered on a footbridge in Fanwood Nature Center, New Jersey. 

The vandalism was reportedly discovered only a few hours after the bridge was erected. 

The graffiti also included the N-word, as well as “kike” and “faggot”, which were scratched into the side of the new bridge. 

Mayor Colleen Mahr said: “I am appalled and disappointed…We will not tolerate or accept these actions from anyone in our community. I fully support law enforcement efforts to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice.”

According to the FBI, over 60 percent of hate crimes against a religious minority are motivated by antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

Image credit: Fanwood Police Department

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New Jersey man faces thirty six charges for allegedly targeting and vandalising Jewish homes

A man in Manchester, New Jersey is facing thirty six criminal counts for allegedly targeting and damaging Jewish homes.

Ron Carr, 34, has been accused of vandalising over a dozen houses and residential fences with swastika graffiti, and setting a fire which destroyed a home. 

No injuries have been reported.

Attorney General Matthew Platkin and Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer announced that Mr Carr was charged with second degree aggravated arson, third degree arson, fourth degree criminal mischief, and first and third degree bias intimidation.

The alleged crime spree is said to have taken place from late Tuesday evening through to early Thursday morning.

Mr Platkin said: “This crime spree and the antisemitism that it expressed caused pain, destruction, shock and fear among the residents of Manchester Township.

“No community in the State of New Jersey should feel vulnerable or anxious in the face of acts of intolerance. No resident should feel their personal safety or their home is threatened by bigotry, persecution and violence.”

According to the FBI, over 60 percent of hate crimes against a religious minority are motivated by antisemitism.

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism throughout the United States.

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Dr Barbara Molas talks to CAA about acting as the expert witness in notorious antisemite Alison Chabloz’s failed appeal

Dr Bàrbara Molas, an expert on far-right ideology, online radicalisation, and prevention who works as a Research Fellow at the Current and Emerging Threats Programme at The International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, appeared on the most recent episode of Podcast Against Antisemitism where she spoke about her experience acting as an expert witness at the failed appeal of the notorious antisemite Alison Chabloz, where she analysed the lyrics of one of Ms Chabloz’s songs for the court.

The two-day appeal hearing at Southwark Crown Court in February followed last year’s two-day trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court which concerned a video of the scene in the classic Oliver Twist film when Fagin, a fictitious Jewish criminal (a character that has come under significant criticism over the past century for its antisemitic depiction), is explaining to his newest recruit how his legion of children followers pickpockets. Ms Chabloz uploaded the video and sings an accompanying song of her own about how Jews are greedy, “grift” for “shekels” and cheat on their taxes.

The video appeared to be either a bizarre fundraising effort for her mounting legal costs due to numerous charges she has faced, including several ongoing prosecutions in which Campaign Against Antisemitism has provided evidence, or an attempt at mockery of Campaign Against Antisemitism for pursuing her in the courts.

During her appeal, Ms Chabloz tried to suggest that the video was part of a personal quarrel, as she had suggested throughout her trial, to no avail. 

Dr Molas told Campaign Against Antisemitism that her task in analysing the lyrics was essentially a “decoding exercising”, owing to the fact that Ms Chabloz “tried to manipulate the lyrics in ways that, for those in circles that endorse antisemitic ideas and far-right ideologies, would have been very easy to identify and very easy to relate to.”

The far-right expert said that she explained to the court that “it’s not just using coded language for humorous discourse or conversations, but actually using coded language to reinforce prejudices against the community that was targeted at that time, helping normalise those prejudices.”

Dr Molas said that the trial and appeal “allowed [her] to understand the extent of how coded language could be used to further the normalisation of antisemitism.”

While Dr Molas said that she found the task to be of interest, she also admitted that she had concerns for her personal safety, and revealed that she was provided support beforehand.

Ms Chabloz is a virulent antisemite and Holocaust denier who has an extensive record of using social media to publicise her hatred for Jews and to convert others to her views about Jewish people. Following a private prosecution by Campaign Against Antisemitism, which was later continued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Ms Chabloz became the first person in Britain to be convicted over Holocaust denial in a precedent-setting case.

Ms Chabloz is fixated on the idea that the Holocaust did not occur, and that it was fabricated by Jews and their supporters as a vehicle for fraudulently extorting money in the form of reparations. This forms the basis for her second obsession: that Jews are liars and thieves who are working to undermine Western society. Ms Chabloz is also connected to far-right movements, at whose meetings she gives speeches and performs her songs, in the UK and North America. She is currently banned from entering France, where Holocaust denial is illegal.

This podcast can be listened to here, or watched here.

Podcast Against Antisemitism, produced by Campaign Against Antisemitism, talks to a different guest about antisemitism each week. It streams every Thursday and is available through all major podcast apps and YouTube. You can also subscribe to have new episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Previous guests have included comedian David Baddiel, television personality Robert Rinder, writer Eve Barlow, Grammy-Award-winning singer-songwriter Autumn Rowe, and actor Eddie Marsan.

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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.