Jewish community leaders in Britain said today violent anti-Semitic attacks are increasing, as police announced they were hunting a gang believed to be behind a string of assaults on orthodox Jews.
Detectives said the gang was behind at least eight racist attacks in the last two months on Jewish men in the Stamford Hill area of north London, which has a large Jewish community.
"We have a rising trend in violence and anti-Semitism on the streets," said Mr Michael Whine, director of communications at the Community Security Trust, which advises and represents Britain's Jewish community on matters of security and anti-Semitism.
He said statistics to be released in February would show there had been a "substantial" increase in anti-Semitic incidents in 2004 and a particular rise in violent assaults.
The London attacks, carried out by a group of black and Asian men and all on orthodox Jews identifiable by their attire, began on December 6th when a 23-year-old was kicked and punched in the face.
Since then, the gang, some armed with iron bars, has been accused of carrying out seven other assaults, including two on teenage boys and one where a suspect made an offensive Nazi gesture.
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Chiverton said police were treating the attacks "extremely seriously".
British police also reported today that vandals had daubed swastikas and other Nazi symbols on ten gravestones in a Jewish cemetery in Aldershot, southern England. It was the second time since November that the cemetery, which has 40 graves, had been targeted.
The reports come a week after Prince Harry, third in line to the British throne, caused global outrage after he was pictured at a costume party wearing a Nazi uniform with a swastika. He apologised but Jewish groups said he should visit Auschwitz for the 60th anniversary ceremonies this year.
"Since Prince Harry's episode with the uniform we've had a cemetery daubed with swastikas and Combat 18 (a far right group) symbols, but correlating all this is very difficult and I wouldn't say one thing has led to another," Mr Whine said.
Britain, which is home to around 265,000 Jews, has up to now not seen the level of anti-Semitism of other European countries such as France.