In the past few months, there has been a 335% increase in Islamophobic incidents, according to the charity Tell Mama. In newly released statistics, the organisation found that there had been 2,010 cases of anti-Muslim hate since October 2023.

The number of antisemitic incidents has also increased, reaching 4,103 incidents since the October 7 attacks, which is more than twice the figure in 2022, according to data from the Community Security Trust. The organisation, which tracks antisemitic incidents across the UK, indicated that the reported cases were based in prejudice rather than anger towards Israel’s military response in Gaza.

In over 65% of the Islamophobic incidents, Muslim women were the target. Women in Islamic clothing (such as the hijab) have been attacked on public transport, had their cars vandalised and have been shouted at on the street with comments such as “terrorists” and “you Muslims are troublemakers”.

Iman Atta, the director of Tell Mama, said: “We are deeply concerned about the impacts that the Israel and Gaza war are having on hate crimes and on social cohesion in the UK… This rise in anti-Muslim hate is unacceptable and we hope that political leaders speak out to send a clear message that anti-Muslim hate, like antisemitism, is unacceptable in our country.”

A spokesperson for the Home Office told the BBC that there’s “no place for hate in our society and we condemn the recent rise in reported antisemitic and anti-Muslim hatred. We expect the police to fully investigate all hate crimes and work with the CPS to make sure the cowards who commit these abhorrent offences feel the full force of the law.

“Following recent events, we have also made further funding available to Jewish and Muslim communities to provide additional security at places of worship and faith schools.”

Cases of Islamophobia and antisemitism in the UK have seen sharp increases since October 2023