British Jews Say Antisemitism Threats, Spitting, and Kidnapping Push Some to Leave the UK

British Jews described a sharp rise in antisemitism that is reshaping everyday life, pushing some people to consider leaving the UK.

“- Published Amanda has been at the centre of her local community for years, as a volunteer and a governor at her two children's school in a quiet London suburb”

BBC

In a BBC Panorama report, Amanda, 47, said she has been spat at in the street, branded a "baby killer", and received a death threat because she is Jewish.

BBC

She told the programme that until recently she openly wore a Star of David pendant, but now she says it makes her a target, adding, "It's hard to be openly Jewish sometimes in everyday life" and "Living in the UK now for Jewish people is very uncomfortable."

Amanda said conversations in a WhatsApp group of about 20 Jewish friends have shifted from neighbourhood chat to "What is the exit plan? Where are you going? What will you do? When will you be going?"

She said the group is considering emigrating within the next few months, mainly to Israel, and that "There aren't any Jewish people I know that haven't got plans to leave."

The BBC report tied those fears to migration data, saying more British Jews have moved to Israel in the past 12 months than in any other year since the turn of this century, with 742 moving out of an estimated 300,000 population.

It also cited a survey by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, shared exclusively with BBC Panorama, suggesting antisemitism is pushing about one in five British Jews to think about leaving.

A separate incident in north London focused attention on attacks on Jewish-linked services, with police ruling out the possibility of a terrorist attack while treating the fire as antisemitic.

France 24 reported that British police said on Monday that an attack on ambulances belonging to a Jewish organization in north London was not being treated at this stage as a terrorist incident, with the investigation led by counterterrorism police.

France 24

The London Fire Brigade received a report of a fire in vehicles on Hayfield Court in Golders Green, north London, at 1:40 a.m. (01:40 GMT), and firefighters found that several gas cylinders in the vehicles had exploded, shattering windows of a nearby building.

France 24 said nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution while some roads in the area were closed, and police said in a statement they were treating the incident as an 'anti-Semitic hate crime.'

It reported that Commissioner Sarah Jackson announced 'We are looking for three suspects at this early stage.'

The ambulances belonged to Hatzolah, described as a volunteer, non-profit organization that responds to medical emergencies, and the Metropolitan Police said an investigation had been opened after four ambulances were set on fire.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the incident as a 'horrific anti-Semitic attack,' writing on X: 'This is a deliberate arson attack... shocking and anti-Semitic.'

Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to bolster security presence and pursue perpetrators after antisemitic arson attempts in north London, framing the attacks as assaults on Britain.

“Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he is shocked by the latest antisemitic arson attempts in North London, adding 'This is a despicable act and will not be tolerated”

Arabi21

In a report carried by عربي21, Starmer said he is shocked by the latest antisemitic arson attempts in North London and added, "This is a despicable act and will not be tolerated. Attacks on our Jewish community are attacks on Britain."

The same report said Starmer posted on X that "we are bolstering the visible security presence, and those responsible will be found and brought to justice. We will spare no effort in pursuing the perpetrators."

It described counter-terrorism police leading an investigation into an incident at Kenton United Synagogue in the Harrow area of the capital shortly after midnight, and it quoted the Chief Rabbi, Efraim Mervis, saying the fire did not cause major damage but marked the third "cowardly" attack on Jewish sites in London in less than a week.

Mervis wrote on X that "The severity of a continuing campaign of violence and intimidation against Jews in the United Kingdom... we thank God no lives have been lost but we cannot wait, and we must not wait, until this situation changes," describing it as dangerous.

The عربي21 report also tied the pattern to earlier incidents, saying there was an attempt to set fire to a commercial building with Jewish ties in Britain on Friday evening, and that police arrested a couple of days ago two people suspected of trying to set fire to another synagogue in the capital.

It further said the area around the Israeli Embassy in London was cordoned off after an online report claimed it was targeted by drones carrying hazardous materials, and police later said the items found did not contain any harmful or dangerous materials.

Across the BBC and France 24, the same broad picture of antisemitic violence is presented through different emphases, with the BBC focusing on community fear and incident counts while France 24 concentrates on a specific arson case and the police classification of it.

The BBC Panorama report says the Community Security Trust (CST) is receiving record numbers of reports of antisemitism, and it gives a figure of 3,700 reports of incidents of malicious acts aimed at Jewish people or organisations last year.

BBC

It also cites Home Office figures that across England and Wales police recorded 10,065 religiously motivated hate crimes for the year ending March 2025, and it states the Muslim community was the most targeted group with 4,478 cases.

France 24, by contrast, reports that police said the ambulance arson in Golders Green was not being treated as a terrorist incident at this stage, while still investigating it as an 'anti-Semitic hate crime' led by counterterrorism police.

France 24 also adds detail about a video posted on Telegram in which an unknown movement calling itself the 'Islamic Right-Wing' movement claimed responsibility, while Luke Williams said, 'We cannot confirm this at this time.'

The BBC report also includes a specific incident in north London involving arson on ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity in Golders Green and attempted arson on a synagogue in Finchley, and it says arson attempts occurred on a business in Hendon and a synagogue in Kenton over the weekend.

In the BBC’s narrative, the Community Security Trust monitors antisemitism and the report links fear to potential emigration, while France 24’s narrative centers on immediate investigative steps, evacuation precautions, and the search for suspects.

The sources describe immediate next steps that include investigations led by counterterrorism police, efforts to identify suspects, and additional security measures for Jewish communities.

“Britain: Arson of ambulances in London belonging to a Jewish organization; police rule out the possibility of a terrorist attack British police said on Monday that an attack on ambulances belonging to a Jewish organization in north London is not being treated at this stage as a terrorist incident, with the investigation led by the counterterrorism police”

France 24

France 24 says the investigation into the Golders Green ambulance fire is led by the counterterrorism police and that Commissioner Sarah Jackson announced 'We are looking for three suspects at this early stage.'

France 24

It also says police are examining a video posted on Telegram in which an unknown movement calling itself the 'Islamic Right-Wing' movement claimed responsibility, while Luke Williams said 'We cannot confirm this at this time.'

The عربي21 report says counter-terrorism police are leading the investigation into the incident at Kenton United Synagogue in the Harrow area shortly after midnight, and it describes deterrence patrol officers observing a damaged window and finding an accelerant material thrown into the building.

It also says Starmer pledged to bolster the visible security presence and to spare no effort in pursuing perpetrators, while Chief Rabbi Efraim Mervis said the campaign is dangerous and that they cannot wait until the situation changes.

The BBC Panorama report adds that police and policy experts tasked with tackling antisemitism believe it has helped create conditions for the most serious anti-Jewish hate crimes in recent British history, including the Manchester synagogue attack that left two men dead, and it states that CST is receiving record numbers of reports.

For those affected, the BBC report frames the stakes as personal safety and community continuity, with Amanda saying, "It just removes us from life," and describing how her WhatsApp group is discussing an "exit plan" and considering emigrating mainly to Israel.