Reports of antisemitic incidents in the UK reached a record high last year, according to figures from a Jewish security charity.

The Community Security Trust (CST) recorded reports of 4,103 anti-Jewish hate incidents in 2023, up from 1,662 in 2022 and almost double the previous record of 2,255 hit in 2021.

Its annual report relies on figures from incidents that are self-reported.

Two-thirds of incidents happened on or after the Hamas attacks on 7 October.

This included 416 incidents reported to the CST, which works to protect British Jews from antisemitism, in the week following the attacks - the largest number than any subsequent week.

The CST said this suggested that the increase "was a celebration of the Hamas attack on Israel, rather than anger at Israel's military response in Gaza."

It also found such incidents in and around British schools have more than tripled since 2022.

Many Jewish schools have increased security since last October, including King David High School in Manchester.

While pupils feel safe at school, some say they have been subjected to abuse while travelling there and back.

Verbal abuse on the street has become part of daily life for pupils like Yoni.

"A lot of the time I do feel quite afraid walking around with a kippah [skullcap] because it makes me identifiably Jewish," he said. "Personally, when I've been walking down the street I've had stuff shouted at me from cars and it's had quite an impact.

"A few weeks ago I was threatened, reported it, and the police dealt with it."

His friend Ahiva has also received abuse while shopping in Manchester.

"Unfortunately for a lot of people it's just a fact of life."

Home Secretary James Cleverly said the government had taken steps to confront the "utterly deplorable" rise in antisemitic abuse including increasing funding for protective security at Jewish schools and places of worship.

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