HATE WATCH | APRIL 6, 2024

Amid Rising Antisemitism, London Home Burned in Possible Hate Crime

An arrest has been made in connection with the possible antisemitic arson of a house in London. The suspect, a 60-year-old man, reportedly made “a number of threatening comments, some of which were allegedly antisemitic,” according to Tower Hamlets and Hackney police commander Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway.

The fire, which destroyed the ground and first floors of a three-story house in Hackney, a council-governed community in the inner borough of London, claimed no fatalities but injured three residents and a passerby.

Almost half of British Jews have considered leaving the UK due to rising antisemitism.

Hackney is home to over 17,000 Jews, making it the second largest Jewish community in the UK. The proximity of the incident to the Jewish holiday of Purim, a festival celebrating the deliverance of the Jews of ancient Persia from a royal death decree, caused concern among some residents. The holiday and its resonance with modern-day antisemitism is known to antisemites. Adolf Hitler infamously timed some of his worst atrocities against Jews to coincide with Purim, and banned all observance of the festival. Yet, despite the threat of torture and death, Jews under the cloud of the Third Reich continued to celebrate Purim in defiance of Hitler’s edict.

Conway said, “I know our Jewish communities are about to begin celebrations for Purim, and we have a robust policing plan in place, including increased patrols and enhanced police visibility, to ensure the festivities can be enjoyed safely and securely. Undoubtedly this will be extremely concerning news for our Jewish communities in Hackney and beyond, and I and my officers will be engaging with partners including the Community Safety Trust and the Shomrim to answer their questions and listen to their views.”

The Community Safety Trust (CST) is a charity that protects British Jews from antisemitism and related threats. Shomrim (Hebrew for “keepers” or “guardians”) is a nonprofit network of responders and telephone operators that act as a mobile neighborhood watch. Both groups work closely with London law enforcement.

“This appears to be a very serious incident and we appreciate the police’s swift action in making an arrest,” said CST. “We will be working with them to provide reassurance to the local Jewish community over the coming days.”

A recent poll from the Campaign Against Antisemitism disclosed that since October 7, almost half of British Jews have considered leaving the UK due to rising antisemitism.

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