Police urged to probe ‘antisemitic attack’ on first-year university students
Flat used by Jewish undergraduates at Nottingham Trent is broken into and trashed, with hateful, threatening graffiti allegedly daubed on walls
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Police have been asked to investigate claims that a flat being used by first year Jewish students at Nottingham Trent University was broken into and vandalised, with the attackers leaving behind a note reading “Free Palestine KYS (kill yourselves) Tory C***s”.
The incident is alleged to have taken place last month, with claims that the property was singled out because one of the students had an Israeli flag visible in the kitchen area, in an expression of solidarity with those murdered and kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on October 7th.
Jewish News understands that Nottinghamshire Police have been asked to investigate the incident, with the Union of Jewish Students also involved in helping those students impacted by the incident.
UJS said they could not comment on the alleged antisemitic incident due to confidentiality issues.
The attack on the student property is alleged to have taken place several days after the October 7th massacre, and it is claimed that further antisemitic graffiti was also found inside the flat, and damage was caused to lighting equipment.
In a bizarre move, those responsible for the incident are alleged to have left details of their whereabouts on a piece of A4 paper with a further drawing of two love hearts.
This week, an article on the UnHerd website also made reference to the Trent University attack quoting a mother of one of the Jewish students impacted, who said: “They trashed a room, tore down his lights and took the flag.”
The family member said the student had taken steps to hide her Jewish identity.
She added:”“I get it — they just want to be a kid and get on with uni life. But this is what’s happening. They’re scared. They don’t want anyone to know they’re Jewish.”
The UJS team spoke to @BBCNews about the current Jewish student experience on campus.
We will always lead, defend, and enrich Jewish life on campus.
Our welfare hotline remains open, we are here for every Jewish student. pic.twitter.com/VsQVK4dJIJ
— Union of Jewish Students (@UJS_UK) November 9, 2023
UJS president Edward Isaacs appeared on the BBC this week confirming the huge increase in antisemitic incidents at university campuses across the country.
“We are seeing so much hatred, so much intimidation, so much abuse that Jewish students are getting,” Isaacs confirmed. The BBC report confirmed the “significant increase” in Jewish students no longer feeling safe at uni.
A spokesperson from Nottingham Trent University said they could not comment on the incident at their institution while a police investigation was ongoing.
Jewish News has contacted Nottinghamshire police for comment.
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