Jewish children, teens violently attacked in London: ‘streets are no longer safe’

Antisemitic attacks are on the rise in Western Europe, with the latest targets being Jewish teens and children in the United Kingdom. A recent incident in London saw two buses carrying students from a Jewish school being attacked by a group of around ten teens wielding large rocks. The attackers boarded the buses, swore at the students, and filmed the incident, shouting derogatory remarks like ‘F— Israel’ and ‘F— off, you bitches.’

The students described feeling scared and helpless as the attackers continued to throw rocks at the buses. One 11-year-old student reported that some of her classmates ran off the bus in fear, while she remained on board, unsure of what to do. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for action to address the rising tide of antisemitism in the UK.

According to the Campaign Against Antisemitism, there has been a significant increase in antisemitic incidents in the UK following the Hamas terror attacks on Oct. 7. The organization’s research shows that a shocking 42% of British Jews have considered leaving the country due to antisemitism, with that number rising to 85% when considering antisemitism in politics. Additionally, only 26% of British Jews believe that the Crown Prosecution Service is doing enough to protect the Jewish community.

In another disturbing incident, a group of Jewish teenage girls was targeted by a man throwing glass bottles from a balcony in East London. One of the girls sustained serious head injuries and was hospitalized. This incident is also being investigated as a potential antisemitic crime.

Overall, in 2023, there were 4,103 antisemitic incidents recorded in the UK, with more than half of them occurring in London. Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, has referred to London as ‘the most antisemitic city’ due to the atmosphere created by Hamas supporters.

As antisemitism continues to spread, it is crucial for authorities to take swift action to protect Jewish communities and hold perpetrators accountable. The safety and well-being of Jewish individuals, especially children and teenagers, must be a top priority in combating this disturbing trend.