Universities told to share antisemitism data after surge in violence
Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday called on universities to “publish the scale” of antisemitic incidents on campuses as well as the “specific steps” taken to suppress them.
The remarks come after three men, two of whom are Jewish, were stabbed last week in London in what police described as a terrorist incident.
The Financial Times reported that universities were preparing to release anonymised data on antisemitic incidents and corresponding action by the start of the next academic year. Imperial disclosed last year that there had been three student disciplinary cases for anti-Semitism between the academic years 2019-20 and 2023-24, all of which were still under consideration as of April 2024.
In an email sent to the student body on the day after the stabbing, Imperial’s Registrar and University secretary, Richard Martin, expressed solidarity with those affected by the “horrific” attack and said he contacted the heads of the College’s Jewish and Israeli student societies to “express [his] shock and to offer support.”
“Everyone has the right to feel safe, secure and supported in London, especially when they are on our campuses,” Martin wrote.
Antisemitism on the rise
Antisemitic attacks are on the rise in Britain, with incidents since March including multiple arson attacks on synagogues and another on ambulances run by a Jewish charity.
The Community Security Trust, a UK-based charity, recorded a 4% rise in antisemitic incidents between 2024 and 2025, resulting in the second-highest incidence since 2023, when 4,298 cases were reported.
Vivienne Stern, the CEO of charity Universities UK, said that “evidence suggests that people between the ages of 18 and 34 are disproportionately represented in those holding antisemitic, including extremely antisemitic, views.” Previous reporting by Felix had revealed the existence of a network of racist and antisemitic online communities operating under the banner “Agartha”, based at Imperial and other universities worldwide.
The prime minister said the government was also inquiring “whether a foreign state has been behind some of these incidents,” later referring to Iran, which is suspected to be hiring young British criminals to carry out attacks.
