UK anti-Semitism skyockets
2005: Second highest number of attacks on Jewish people and property in Britain
The number of UK anti-Semitic incidents on people and property during 2005, was the second highest ever reported.
According to The Community Security Trust (CST) which works to combat anti-Semitic hate crime, 455 incidents were recorded with 82 being described as "violent assaults".
Two extreme violence incidents were reported. In Manchester, a Jewish religious student was stabbed by a man who chased him and shouted: "I knew I could get you, you f**king Jewish bastard", while in London a man was attacked by 15 youths who smashed a bottle over his head, kicked and punched him and then tried to set fire to him
The number of incidents recorded as "abusive behaviour" were 273.
Record levels were reached in 2004, when 532 incidents were reported
According to the CST, the number of "threats" including phonecalls dropped in 2005 to 25 compared to 60 in 2004.
While overall anti-Semitic attacks continue, those described as "desecrations of Jewish property" dropped from 53 in 2004, to 48 in 2005.
"The number of anti-Semitic race hate incidents remains unacceptably high," said CST spokesman Mark Gardner. "The key indicators of violent assaults and abusive behaviour are remarkably consistent with the record 2004 figures."
Reprinted by permission of Something Jewish
