Police are investigating what they describe as racially aggravated hate crimes after symbols of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah were vandalised in west London. The incidents, which occurred just days after the deadly terror attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, have been condemned as 'appalling and disgraceful' by community leaders.
Details of the Vandalism Incidents
The two acts of vandalism were reported to police on Tuesday, December 16. In the first incident, a painting of a menorah – the nine-branched candelabrum central to Hanukkah celebrations – was daubed with white paint on Westbourne Grove in the Notting Hill area. Separately, a physical menorah was damaged in Holland Park, Kensington.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they are investigating the possibility that the two offences are connected. Officers have been reviewing CCTV footage and conducting door-to-door enquiries in an effort to identify the perpetrators.
Community Reaction and Heightened Security
The attacks have sent shockwaves through the UK's Jewish community, which was already on high alert following the Bondi Beach massacre in Sydney on Sunday, where two gunmen killed 15 people at a Hanukkah event. A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust (CST), which works to protect British Jews, issued a strong statement.
'The vandalism in London is appalling and disgraceful, particularly in the wake of the horrific terror attack in Sydney,' the spokesperson said. 'These desecrations are not isolated incidents; they are just two examples of damage, with other cases having been reported to us. The story of Chanukah is one of light and hope and Jewish people should be free to celebrate this holiday without fear or hatred.'
In response, the CST has raised security levels for synagogues and Jewish schools across the country, implementing more patrols and increasing CCTV coverage. The Metropolitan Police has also deployed additional officers in parts of London to provide visible reassurance.
A Context of Rising Antisemitism
Superintendent Owen Renowden of the Metropolitan Police acknowledged the profound impact of these events. 'This has been a tremendously difficult week for the Jewish community following the terror attack in Australia and I appreciate how these incidents will cause hurt, harm and distress,' he stated.
These incidents occur against a backdrop of intensifying antisemitism in the UK. According to recent research from the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, more than a third of British Jews now feel unsafe, a dramatic increase from just 9% in May 2023. Furthermore, 47% of those surveyed believe antisemitism is a 'very big' problem in the country today.
This follows the deadly attack in Manchester in October, when Jihad al-Shamie drove a car into a synagogue gathering in Heaton Park before stabbing worshippers, killing two people before being shot dead by police.
Police are urging anyone with information about the west London vandalism to contact them on 101, quoting the reference numbers CAD5183/16Dec for the Westbourne Grove incident and CAD5739/16Dec for the Holland Park damage.
