Anti-Semitic incidents surged after Bob Vylan Glastonbury chant
Bobby Vylan, the leader singer of the punk rap duo whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, repeatedly chanted 'death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]' in a performance that was broadcast live by the BBC in June.
The incident prompted Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi, to brand the airing 'of vile Jew hatred' as a 'national shame', and the Campaign Against Antisemitism also called for Tim Davie, the BBC's director general, to be sacked.
In the latest report by the Community Security Trust (CST), a UK charity that works to protect Jews from anti-Semitism, the highest daily total of anti-Semitic incidents in the first half of 2025 was 26 on June 29, the day after Bob Vylan's set at Glastonbury.
Of these, 12 were anti-Semitic reactions to statements issued by Jewish organisations in response to events at the music festival.
The second-worst day for anti-Jewish hate was May 17, the day after Israel announced an expansion of its military operation in Gaza, when 19 incidents were recorded.
The CST said: 'In all these incidents, anti-Jewish language, motivation or targeting was evident alongside rhetoric linked to Israel and the wider conflict.
'Both cases illustrate how sentiment and rhetoric towards Israel influences, shapes and drives contemporary anti-Jewish hate, online and offline, often around totemic events that grab mainstream public attention.'
Responding to the CST report, Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, said: 'Anti-Semitic incidents and crimes remain shamefully and persistently high and every incident has a profoundly damaging impact both on the individuals affected and the wider Jewish community.
'This Government remains steadfast in its commitment to root out the poison of anti-Semitism wherever it is found.'
Her comments come as The Telegraph understands that the Government has revived its Antisemitism Working Group to advise on how best to respond to incidents.
Incidents recorded by the CST in the first half of the year include graffiti featuring swastikas, social media posts saying 'Hitler was correct' and in one instance, a poster was put up in Dundee saying: 'It can't be terrible forever, only kicking the Jews out will make things better'.
On another occasion, pig trotters were placed on the grounds of a synagogue in Kent. After being caught on CCTV, a man was arrested, admitted to the actions in court and subsequently arrested again for breaching his bail conditions.
Overall, the CST recorded 1,521 anti-Semitic incidents in the UK from January to June 2025.
This marked the second-highest total of anti-Jewish hate incidents ever recorded by the organisation in the first half of any year, with the highest total being the first half of 2024, which saw 2,019 incidents in the immediate aftermath of the Oct 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel.
The organisation also recorded 76 violent anti-Jewish assaults in the first six months of this year, three of which were so severe they were categorised as extreme violence (meaning they involved GBH or a threat to life).
Responding to the publication of its latest report, Mark Gardner MBE, the chief executive of CST, said: 'These are extreme levels of Jew hatred, committed in the name of anti-Israel activism.
'It involves racial hatred, yelled at Jewish schoolchildren, scrawled on synagogue walls and thrown at anyone who is Jewish, or suspected of being Jewish.
'In such difficult times, CST is proud to give strength to British Jews when they most need it. We thank those politicians and police officers who have supported our community, especially when Jew hatred is effectively sanctioned in so many spaces that falsely claim to oppose all forms of racism.'
Following the Bob Vylan incident the BBC said it should have pulled the livestream performance, adding: 'We regret this did not happen'.
The broadcaster's statement came after Ofcom, the broadcasting watchdog, said the BBC ' clearly has questions to answer ' over its coverage, and the Government questioned why the frontman's comments were aired live.
The Glastonbury organisers said they were 'appalled' by the chants, which 'crossed a line'.
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