Jewish students at UK universities followed home and sent death threats

Last year, the Community Security Trust recorded double the number of school-related antisemitic incidents over the course of 2025 than seen in 2023, reaching 204 cases.

Now, the report by charity StandWithUs UK revealed that University of Birmingham, University College London (UCL), Royal Holloway University and City St George’s have served as the backdrop for vile anti-Jewish attacks.

A 22-year-old history student at Royal Holloway Evaldes Barstys, detailed how he was subjected to a sustained campaign of intimidation after he established an Israel Society.

He said that just a few weeks after he announced the club, he began to receive anonymous calls from people claiming to be watching him, the report, shared with The Telegraph, said.

In one call, the dialler is alleged to have threatened to assault attendees of the Jewish Society.

The vile messages, shared with The Telegraph, read: "calm yourself f****t Jew bag" and "I am gonna murder this racist p****k".

In another, one messaged: "tell me where he lives and where I can find it, leave it to me".

A spokesman for Royal Holloway University said: "Antisemitism, Islamophobia and discrimination of any kind have no place at the university.

"A number of the concerns outlined are subject to active internal or police investigations, and it would therefore not be appropriate to comment on individual cases."

In Birmingham, Jewish students have been instructed to return to America or Poland. In one instance, they were told to "go back to Auschwitz".

Recorded hate crimes against Jewish people in the West Midlands area have almost doubled since 2022, jumping from 27 to 53, the BBC reported.

One student detailed that pupils were often subjected to heckling and harassment on the way home and were even honked at.

A spokesman for the University of Birmingham said: "We are appalled to hear about these allegations and find them unacceptable and abhorrent."

Back in March, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson requested a review into antisemitism across schools and colleges in England.

Sir David Bell was asked to lead the probe to examine the policies, procedures, and support available for Jewish citizens.

At the time, Ms Phillipson said: "No Jewish student should feel unsafe at school or college, and staff must be supported to tackle antisemitism wherever it occurs.

"The rise in antisemitic incidents is abhorrent, and I urge anyone with first-hand experience to come forward and help shape our response – your story will not go unheard.

"The review sits alongside wider action to tackle antisemitism across education, including a £7million investment to improve training and resources for schools, colleges and universities."

The review's findings will be published in the autumn.