Antisemitic incidents at UK universities are 'up 14% in a year' and remain far HIGHER than before October 7

From the Newshound archive · first published 30 September 2026.

Campus antisemitism has settled at a permanently elevated level, with extreme violence recorded at British universities for the first time ever. The Community Security Trust logged 95 incidents in 2025/26, up from 83 the previous year and nearly double the 53 recorded before the October 7 attacks. Education Secretary Lucy Powell called the findings 'deeply troubling' but critics warn her training pledge falls far short of what is needed.

Lecturers and tutors were responsible for 16 of the incidents, with the CST warning that staff antisemitism carries 'increased weight' over students who fear reporting it.

For the first time, CST classified two incidents as 'extreme violence' — attacks capable of causing loss of life or GBH — one in Edinburgh and one in Leeds.

Incidents included 'die' and 'Jude' scrawled in what appeared to be blood on a Jewish student's door, and a threat to 'run over' students identified as Zionist.