‘Huge surge' in antisemitism in Birmingham prompts city Jewish site to apply big security changes
A Jewish student accommodation site in Birmingham has applied to beef up its security after what it describes as a 'huge surge' in antisemitism in the city.
The Trustees of Hillel House, a dedicated site for Jewish students in Edgbaston, have applied to install a 1.8 metre high fence and security gates at the site citing a rise in anti-Jewish feeling at university campuses.
They say Birmingham has not been exempt from this sentiment and the protests and disruption were a 'major part of the requirement for these gates to be installed'.
Read more: Huge rise in West Midlands Police antisemitic hate crime reports
Last year the University of Birmingham saw pro-Palestinian protestors set up encampments at its Edgbaston campus raising concerns about the war in Gaza.
The university went to court to evict the protestors amid allegations of 'unacceptable activity', including 'graffiti and intimidation against staff and students'.
But amid ongoing tensions the trustees of the 'hub for Jewish student life' have applied to surround its student accommodation with a mesh security fence and metal galvanised electric gate.
Get the latest BirminghamLive news direct to your inbox
The Edgbaston site offers students 'kosher food, religious services, holiday celebrations, and a place to meet, connect, and form a sense of belonging'.
It is the largest of its type in the UK and offers accommodation for 36 Jewish students.
The new fencing and gate would not be visible from the street.
Read more: Big John's condemns 'hideous' crime at city takeaway
The application states: 'It is proposed to erect a 1800mm high metal galvanized powdered coated black coloured security entrance gate electronically operated with pedestrian side gate set back from the public highway by 16.5m.
'Within the grounds of property, it is proposed to erect 1800mm vertical mesh security fencing powdered-coated green set back from the highway ranging from 7m to 15m and is screened by mature trees and shrubs and will not be visible from the public highway.
'The reason for the proposal is to provide additional security to the students, due to the recent huge surge in antisemitism which has arisen in university campuses.
'Birmingham has certainly not been exempt from these protests and disruption and this is a major part of the requirement for these gates to be installed.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man who attacked officers outside police station had been referred to Prevent
A man armed with Molotov cocktails and a hatchet who attacked officers outside a South Wales police station had been referred to the Prevent anti-terrorism programme a year earlier by his sister, a court heard. Alexander Dighton, 28, knocked one officer unconscious and stabbed another in the leg when he launched an attack on Talbot Green Police Station in Rhondda Cynon Taf on January 31. In a police interview, Dighton, of Pontyclun, said he did not consider the scope of damage, 'merely that blood had to be spilt'. He previously pleaded guilty to 10 charges relating to the incident. At a sentencing hearing at the Old Bailey on Friday, Judge Mark Lucraft KC heard Dighton had been referred to the anti-terrorism programme Prevent a year before the incident. Prosecutor Nicholas Hearn said: 'On January 5 2024, the defendant was reported to Prevent by his sister, who stated her brother holds racist and anti-Muslim views and is likely to be involved with incel groups. 'She also stated that he is vulnerable as he has gone missing previously and has attempted suicide.' The incel movement is made up of people who find themselves unsuccessful in relationships, often harbouring extreme and misogynistic views. On the night of the attack, Dighton arrived at the police station shortly before 7pm, where he lit a petrol bomb and threw it at a police van. When that failed to ignite, he attempted to start a fire by pouring lighter fluid over the van before smashing the windows of two vehicles using a pole. When confronted by officers, Dighton said: 'I'm fed up, I'm done,' before launching his attack. Attempts to restrain him using a Taser were unsuccessful because of the body armour he was wearing. He swung a pole at one officer, punched one in the head and stabbed another in the thigh, narrowly missing his femoral artery. Two of the three injured officers were taken to hospital for treatment. The court also heard Dighton had recently been involved in an altercation with his neighbour, during which he used a homophobic slur. A week before the incident, he had received a letter from the police telling him to attend a police station to provide biometric samples in relation to the alleged public order offence. In a police interview after the attack on the police station, he said that he expected officers to go to his home to attempt to arrest him for not providing a sample. Mr Hearn said: 'He intended to attack the police officers who attended with a shovel, which he had sharpened for that purpose, and that his intention at that time was to kill any police officers who attended. 'No officers in fact attended the defendant's address.' During the interview, he also said his intention was to let it be known that 'his tolerance for the government had come to an end' by causing as much damage as possible. Mr Hearn said: '(Dighton) said that he had 'teetered' as to whether he wanted to kill someone and had not been 'fully decided'.' Dighton, representing himself in court, spoke about violence being 'justified' against the state. He referred to grooming gangs and 'Boris Johnson having parties while the country is locked down' during the Covid-19 pandemic. The defendant added: 'People have such a short memory, it is terrible. 'I will be dead before I leave prison anyway, so that doesn't bother me.' The hearing continues.
Newsweek
26 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Texas' Largest Newspaper Trashes Greg Abbott Protest Move: 'Expect Better'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Houston Chronicle, Texas's top selling newspaper, has published an editorial fiercely critical of Governor Greg Abbott over his rhetoric and decision to deploy Texas National Guard troops in response to protests against immigration enforcement, saying "we expect better of him." Newsweek contacted Governor Abbott for comment on Friday via email outside of regular office hours. Why It Matters On Tuesday, Abbott announced the deployment of Texas National Guard soldiers. The following day on X he said "5,000+" National Guard personnel would help manage protests in the state adding: "Don't mess with Texas." The move came after days of unrest in Los Angeles which began on June 6 when demonstrators clashed with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents attempting to conduct raids in the city. The following days saw more violent disorder with Waymo self-driving vehicles set on fire and rocks thrown at police who responded with tear gas and other "less lethal" weapons. Abbott's move places him at odds with California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who opposed President Donald Trump's decision to deploy California National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles. What to Know In its editorial, the Houston Chronicle said Abbott's decision to deploy National Guard troops following protests "seems like an overreaction," adding: "But there was no serious indication Tuesday that Texas was on the verge of exploding. No burning cars. No looting. No mayors imposing curfews." Instead the editorial claimed the "most significant provocation to violence seemed to come from Abbott himself, citing the governor's warning that "Peaceful protesting is legal. But once you cross the line, you will be arrested. FAFO." FAFO is an acronym for 'F*** around find out.' The editorial described this as "the kind of thing that middle schoolers say before a fistfight" adding: "This isn't the grown-up leadership that Texas needs." Governor Greg Abbott speaking during a bill signing in the State Capitol on April 23, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Governor Greg Abbott speaking during a bill signing in the State Capitol on April 23, 2025 in Austin, Texas. Brandon Bell/GETTY According to All Sides, a website which monitors media bias, the Houston Chronicle is a centrist publication. In recent years it has endorsed Democratic presidential candidates including Kamala Harris in 2024 and Joe Biden in 2020. There was some disorder in Austin and Dallas on Monday night during anti-ICE protests, police making a number of arrests in both cities. According to Fox 7 Austin, four officers were injured after some demonstrators began throwing rocks and other missiles, while police responded with pepper balls and tear gas. Further protests are expected across Texas on Saturday as part of the national "No Kings" movement, which said it has organized 1,800 demonstrations nationwide. The protests coincide with Trump's 79th birthday and a controversial parade planned for Washington, D.C. nominally celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ordered the Trump administration to return control of the California National Guard troops he deployed to Newsom, though this was later temporarily blocked by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal. What People Are Saying In its editorial the Houston Chronicle said: "We join Gov. Abbott in urging that anyone planning to protest do so peacefully. But we also hope that he and other leaders will set a respectful tone and allow police to do their jobs. Local law officers have more peacekeeping training and community knowledge than National Guard soldiers. And the National Guard, in turn, is far better at domestic peacekeeping than the U.S. military. Domestic policing is not the military's job, not what the vast majority of soldiers are trained to do." On Thursday, via X, Abbott said: "Texas will not tolerate the lawlessness we've seen in LA. I deployed 5,000+ Texas National Guard soldiers & 2,000+ DPS troopers across Texas to maintain order at these protests. "Anyone who damages property or harms a person will be arrested. Don't mess with Texas." Speaking to Newsweek about Saturday's planned protests Mark Shanahan, who teaches American politics at the UK's Surrey University, said: "How many people turn out for the 1,800 planned protests will be fascinating and an indication of the strength of opposition to Trump's hard-line policies on immigration and law and order. For 249 years the USA really hasn't tolerated kings or tyranny, yet this president continues to push ever-harder at those Constitutional barriers. His military parade is more reminiscent of the exercises in hubris and vanity often seen in Moscow and Pyongyang." What Happens Next It remains to be seen what role, if any, the Texas National Guard will fulfill during Saturday's 'No Kings' protests. Any conflict between soldiers and demonstrators on American streets would likely spark civil liberties concerns.
Axios
30 minutes ago
- Axios
Kraft-funded group works to boost engagement in antisemitism fight
As antisemitic incidents escalate nationwide, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism (FCAS), the nonprofit founded by Patriots owner Robert Kraft, is trying to reach Americans unaware of how bad the problem really is. Why it matters: Antisemitic incidents in the U.S. jumped almost 900% in 10 years, according to the Anti-Defamation League. Kraft's group brought Wayfair and Boston Consulting Group veteran Adam Katz on as its new president to head up the mission to educate Americans about the pervasiveness of antisemitism. Zoom in: Katz wants to focus on unengaged Americans, whom the group classifies as people aware and active against most forms of cultural hate and discrimination but not as aware of Jewish persecution. The group's programs work on early intervention to prevent antisemitism from becoming normalized. What they're saying:"Jewish hate is effectively a gateway hate," Katz told Axios. "You see throughout history in the world and in this country, where Jewish hate starts quickly, hate against other groups follows." By the numbers: 45% of Americans remain "unaware" of rising antisemitism, according to FCAS research. Jews constitute 2% of the U.S. population but suffer nearly 70% of faith-based hate crimes, they say. "They don't see Jewish hate as a significant problem. They don't see it as a relevant problem. In many cases, they think it's something that Jews can just solve themselves," Katz said. The group cites recent incidents like swastika graffiti at Brookline's Park School and harassment on college campuses.
