Police investigating “targeted” cyber-attack on annual gala dinner of major Jewish communal organisation, leading to speculation of an antisemitic motivation
The police are understood to be investigating a cyber-attack on the annual dinner of a major Jewish communal organisation in the UK.
The Centenary celebration of the United Jewish Israel Appeal (UJIA), a major Jewish charity, was marked with a gala online dinner last night, but the event was marred by a severe technical disruption.
It is understood that the event company operating the platform believes that the cyber-attack was “targeted”, which has led to speculation that there may have been an antisemitic motivation.
In a statement, UJIA explained that the evening “was disrupted by a targeted cyber-attack”. The effect of the disruption was that hundreds of registered attendees were unable to access the event, but it was then streamed on YouTube, where they were able to watch it.
Campaign Against Antisemitism has urged communal institutions to take precautions to safeguard against antisemitic disruption of online events. We now urge the police to undertake a full investigation and bring the culprits to justice, with charges to take account of any antisemitic motivation.