The Community Security Trust reports a 20% rise in anti‑Semitic incidents in the UK in the first half of 2026, with 1,926 incidents — the second‑highest six‑month total on record. Spikes followed the start of US and Israeli military action against Iran and a double stabbing in Golders Green that prompted dozens of reports. Government and community leaders condemned the surge and pledged increased policing and protection for Jewish communities, including a £250 million funding boost.
Report: Anti‑Semitic Incidents in UK Rose 20% in First Half of 2026 After Iran Conflict and London Stabbing
A Star of David hangs on a wall in the prayer hall of a synagogue. (is associated with: «Spike in anti-Semitism in UK after Iran war began, report suggests») David Inderlied/dpa
The Community Security Trust (CST) says anti‑Semitic incidents across the United Kingdom rose sharply in the first half of 2026, with spikes linked to the start of US and Israeli military action against Iran and a violent knife attack on two visibly Jewish men in London.
Key figures: The CST recorded 1,926 anti‑Jewish incidents in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between January and June 2026 — a 20% increase from 1,598 in the same period in 2025. This is the second‑highest six‑month total the charity has logged, behind 2,019 incidents in the first half of 2024.
Timing and notable surges
The report highlights two pronounced spikes. In the week after 28 February — the day CST notes as marking the start of US and Israeli military action against Iran — reports rose 71%, from 52 incidents the previous week to 89. The April 29 double stabbing in Golders Green produced the highest single‑day and short‑term totals in the period: the CST logged 71 incidents in the three days after that attack, 16 of which explicitly referenced the stabbing.
In the early months of 2026 the charity also recorded a series of arson attacks on Jewish sites in London, including attacks on Jewish community ambulances, and a number of other assaults and hostile incidents targeting Jewish people and property.
Reactions and responses
Sarah Jones, Policing and Crime Minister: "Behind these appalling numbers are people living in fear just for being who they are."
CST chief executive Mark Gardner warned the pattern of incidents "should concern everyone who cares about Britain and the threats against it," pointing to both international state‑level risks and domestic extremists across Islamist, far‑right, far‑left and other ideological groups.
John Mann, the government’s independent adviser on anti‑Semitism: The data shows anti‑Jewish racism remains at an "all‑time high" and is increasingly violent. He thanked the CST and police for their efforts and reiterated a commitment to zero tolerance for anti‑Jewish hatred.
The government said it is investing a record £250 million to bolster policing in Jewish neighbourhoods and working closely with the CST to protect synagogues, Jewish schools and community centres.
What the numbers mean
While the report catalogs an alarming rise in reported incidents, the CST stresses these figures reflect incidents reported to the organisation and to police; they are widely used as a key measure of anti‑Semitic activity in the UK. Authorities and community leaders say the trends show a growing need for vigilance, targeted protection and preventative work to address both violent attacks and the online spread of hatred and conspiracy theories.
Note: All figures and attributions in this article are based on the CST report and statements from named officials quoted in that report.
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