Itongadol.-The first six months of 2016 saw an 11 per cent increase in antisemitic hate incidents recorded in the UK compared to the same period in 2015, according to CST\’s Antisemitic Incident Report January-June 2016, published today.
CST recorded 557 antisemitic incidents nationwide during the first half of 2016, compared to 500 antisemitic incidents during the first six months of 2015. This total of 557 incidents is the second-highest CST has ever recorded in the January-June period of any year. The highest total for the first half of any year came in 2009, when 629 antisemitic incidents were recorded due to antisemitic reactions to the conflict in Israel and Gaza in January 2009. CST has recorded antisemitic incidents since 1984.
A further 364 reports were received by CST between January and June 2016, but were not deemed to be antisemitic and are not included in this total.
There is no obvious single cause for the increase in recorded antisemitic incidents, most of which came in April, May and June, when CST recorded 99, 125 and 112 incidents respectively. The 125 antisemitic incidents recorded in May 2016 was the fourth-highest monthly total ever recorded by CST, and the 112 incidents recorded in June was the sixth-highest monthly total ever recorded. This was a period when antisemitism, racism and extremism were reported and discussed prominently in the national media and in public debate.