Antisemitic incidents in Greater Manchester have increased by 14% in the first half of 2026, with 222 recorded compared to 194 in the same period last year, according to a new report by the Community Safety Trust (CST).
The CST, a charity providing security services to the Jewish community, particularly schools and synagogues, released its latest antisemitism report on August 5, covering January to June 2026. The incidents are categorised as extreme violence, assault, damage and desecration, threats, abusive behaviour, and literature.
National increase and regional hotspots
Nationally, the CST recorded a 21% increase in reports compared to the same period of 2025, with a total of 1,926 incidents – the second highest on record, behind 2,019 incidents between January and June 2024. Of these, 343 were reported through policing partners, with 100 reported by Greater Manchester Police.
In Greater Manchester, incidents were prevalent in areas with larger Jewish populations: 65 in Manchester, 54 in Salford, and 49 in Bury, compared to 13 in Stockport and 8 in Trafford. The CST also recorded 136 cases of extreme violence and assault against the Jewish community nationally, including nine in Salford and six in Bury.
Disturbing incident in north Manchester park
The report highlighted an incident in February in a north Manchester park. A visibly Jewish couple were accosted by seven teenage boys on bikes wearing balaclavas, who sped towards them as if to run them over before stopping short. The boys attempted to grab the male victim's hat, threatened to take the female victim's head covering, taunted the couple, threw stones and branches, and tried to trip them up.
With 222 incidents, Greater Manchester had the second-highest number of antisemitic incidents in the UK, behind Greater London with 994, but well ahead of third-placed Scotland with 76.
October 7 attack and Heaton Park synagogue attack
The CST attributed the rise to the October 7 attack and the war in the Middle East, noting that in the six months before October 7, the monthly average of antisemitic incidents was 161, compared to this year's monthly average of 321.
The CST also commented on the Heaton Park synagogue attack, stating that 'terrorism is a reality that British Jews must now confront'. It noted 96 antisemitic incidents in the region between January and June this year, up from 76 last year. The report said: "The Heaton Park attacker mixed hatred of Israel with targeting of Jews. A synagogue is a place of Jewish prayer and community and a marker of Jewish life. As such, an attack on a synagogue is not a political statement against Israel but an attack on - and an attempt to undermine and destabilise - the diversity of life in the UK."
Community leaders respond
Marc Levy, chief executive of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, called the Heaton Park attack a 'watershed moment'. He said: "It made clear that the deadly threat facing Britain’s Jewish community is real. This has been exacerbated further by the appalling stabbing attack in Golders Green and the spate of arsons targeting Jewish communal buildings and infrastructure. As CST has rightly stated, terrorism is now a reality that British Jews must confront. No one in modern Britain should have to live like the Jewish community behind gates with the fear of violence or intimidation simply because of their faith."
Levy added: "While we remain immensely grateful for the professionalism and commitment of Greater Manchester Police, CST and our political leaders, these figures make clear that far more must be done. Antisemitism is often described as the canary in the coal mine and cannot be excused or dismissed. Hatred towards Jews has no place in Greater Manchester or anywhere else and we must continue to challenge it wherever it presents. Tackling antisemitism cannot be the responsibility of the Jewish community alone. We need all sections of society to stand in solidarity with us and speak out against hatred by taking meaningful action to ensure we can continue leading proud British and Jewish lives."
Newly elected Greater Manchester Mayor Bev Craig said there was 'no place' for antisemitism and hatred in Greater Manchester. In a statement, she said: "We will do everything we can to rid this poison from our city region. We recognise the fear and anxiety that this is causing for our Jewish friends and neighbours, and that is why it is so important that GMP has received additional funding from the Home Office to increase security measures to support and protect local Jewish communities. This year we are also doubling our investment into the Greater Manchester Hate Crime Awareness campaign, and we will continue to work closely with organisations including the CST to support our communities and to increase awareness about how to report antisemitic incidents when they do occur."
Greater Manchester Police were approached for comment.
