UK Antisemitism Surges After Bob Vylan Glastonbury Set

Reports of antisemitic incidents in the UK surged to a record high following punk duo Bob Vylan’s controversial Glastonbury performance, where lead singer Bobby Vylan chanted "death, death to the IDF". The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors antisemitism, recorded 1,521 incidents in the first half of 2025, the second-highest total ever, with the highest daily count of 26 incidents occurring the day after the performance. This surge reflects how rhetoric related to Israel and the Gaza conflict influences and drives contemporary anti-Jewish hate both online and offline. The CST highlighted that over half the incidents referenced or were linked to the Israel-Palestine conflict, with 76 violent assaults and numerous cases of property damage recorded. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the persistently high levels of antisemitic crimes, affirming the government's commitment to combating antisemitism. Meanwhile, police investigations into the Glastonbury incident continue, and the BBC faces criticism for live broadcasting the performance, which was called "utterly chilling" by the CST and a "national shame" by the Chief Rabbi.