|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Police in southern England are investigating a violent antisemitic attack in Bournemouth, where a Jewish teenager sustained a head wound after being shot with an airsoft rifle from a passing car on Saturday.
The assault occurred on Saturday, August 23, at about 2:50 p.m. The driver of the vehicle shouted abusive comments at the teen and his companion before firing.
Dorset Police confirmed they were treating the attack as a hate crime. Officers emphasized the case ranked as a top priority. As a result, extra patrols are now monitor Jewish neighborhoods of Bournemouth, where around 2,000 Jews live.
Rising Antisemitism Across the UK
The shooting follows a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents across the United Kingdom. In fact, the Community Security Trust (CST), which tracks and counters threats against British Jews, recorded 1,521 cases in the first half of 2025. That number stands as the second-highest total ever reported for that period. Moreover, it reflects a dangerous trend of rising hostility.
The CST denounced the Bournemouth attacks on X: “CST is appalled by a series of anti-Jewish hate crimes in Bournemouth over the weekend. These are abhorrent acts of racism that are deeply distressing for the Jewish community and should alarm everybody. We are supporting the local Jewish community and working with Dorset Police to assist their investigation. We urge anyone with information about these incidents to contact the police and CST.”
CST is appalled by a series of anti-Jewish hate crimes in Bournemouth over the weekend. These are abhorrent acts of racism that are deeply distressing for the Jewish community and should alarm everybody. We are supporting the local Jewish community and working with @dorsetpolice…
— CST (@CST_UK) August 25, 2025
For further context, see: Protecting British Jews In a Time of Crisis: A Conversation With CST’s Dr. Dave Rich
Nazi Graffiti Spreads Fear
Also on Saturday, Nazi swastikas appeared on multiple buildings in Bournemouth. Rabbi Bentzion Alperowitz, a local Chabad leader, found one sprayed on the wall of his home.
He was leaving to walk to synagogue on Saturday morning with two of his daughters, aged 7 and 10, when he saw the symbol. “It was very upsetting and alarming,” he said, describing the moment his children witnessed the hate. Soon after, neighbors helped the rabbi’s family scrub away the graffiti.
Rabbi Alperowitz, born and raised in Bournemouth, stressed that the attacks do not reflect the town’s true character. “Bournemouth is a kind, beautiful place, and I feel this is still the truth for the vast majority of people here,” he told The Daily Mail.
He also urged Jews to resist being intimidated. “Be proud to be Jewish and never allow these forces of darkness and forces of evil to instill fear into our hearts,” he declared.
Take Real Action Against Antisemitism
CAM has just launched the Report It app, a mobile platform enabling anyone to report antisemitic incidents — anonymously, securely, and in real time.
By downloading the app on Apple Store or Google Play, you can take an active role in the fight against antisemitism. Every report helps protect your community and drives meaningful change.
