Sadiq Khan has announced a further £875,000 to tackle extremism in London amid a rise in antisemitic and anti-Muslim hate.
There were 994 antisemitic hate crimes recorded in the capital in the first half of 2026, a 24 per cent increase from 800 over the same period in 2025.
Reports of anti-Muslim hate and prejudice are meanwhile running at roughly twice the rate seen in 2023. There were 1,031 reports in the first six months of this year, already surpassing the 1,028 recorded across the whole of 2023.
Funding for grassroots groups
Police, community leaders and ministers have been working to address the rise in hostility, with the Mayor of London now committing a further £875,000 to efforts to tackle extremism.
“There’s absolutely no place for hate crime in our capital and I’m committed to working with partners to help tackle this scourge,” Khan said.
Earlier this year, Jewish neighbourhoods in London were targeted in a series of violent attacks, including arson attacks on community charities and the Hatzola ambulance service, vandalism at synagogues and stabbings in Golders Green. There have also been nine separate attacks on mosques reported over the past year, alongside reports of women being abused for wearing hijabs and incidents of anti-Muslim graffiti.
Rise in far-right activity
In May 2026, far-right activists organised a large-scale march in central London, where speakers used openly anti-Muslim rhetoric. Civil rights groups said the hostility spilled over into street intimidation and counter-protests in the capital.
“As the disgusting attacks on London’s Jewish and Muslim communities have shown and rising rates of antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate in the capital, there is a small minority who continue to use the ongoing conflict in the Middle East to sow seeds of division,” Khan added. “They will never prevail and Londoners will always be united against these malicious acts of hatred.
“Programmes like my Shared Endeavour Fund are strengthening London’s communities against extremism, safeguarding Londoners vulnerable to radicalisation, promoting mutual respect and giving people the tools to recognise and stand up to hate and intolerance, as we build a better and safer London for everyone.”
Prevention and safeguarding
Grassroots groups across London’s 32 boroughs will receive funding to deliver workshops and training in schools and communities. The funding will also support organisations working to prevent radicalisation, help young people identify and challenge hateful and extremist content online, and protect young Londoners considered vulnerable to extremism.
Since 2016, Khan has invested £17 million in initiatives aimed at tackling hate crime.
Commander Helen Flanagan, head of counter terrorism policing in London, said the scale of the radicalisation threat facing children and young people was “deeply concerning”.
“Record numbers of children are becoming involved in our casework, with online platforms and emerging technologies providing extremists with new opportunities to reach and influence those who are vulnerable to radicalisation,” Flanagan said. “Protecting young people from radicalisation is a responsibility that extends far beyond policing.
“It requires a coordinated effort across schools, local authorities, government, families, community organisations and the charity sector to identify risks early and provide the right support before harm occurs. By working together, sharing expertise and investing in innovative approaches to prevention, we can help ensure that children and young people are safer online, more resilient to extremist influences and better protected from those who seek to cause harm. These partnerships remain vital to safeguarding our communities and keeping the public safe from terrorism.”
