ANTI-SEMITIC graffiti was discovered by a Jewish couple near a bridge in Ealing on Sunday afternoon.
The Jewish couple were walking by Grand Union Canal at around 2pm on Sunday, January 18 when they saw the image sprayed in black depicting the Star of David hanging from a hangman-style pole.
Liorah Tchiprout, the daughter of the couple that discovered the sickening graffiti, shared the image on her Facebook page and conceded anti-Semitic behaviour of this kind has become far too common in London.
She said: “I don’t really feel that surprised. Growing up in Ealing, we were one of the only Jewish families in the area and growing up Jewish it was quite scary.
“We have seen this before and it really is a big problem.
“Anti-Semitism is a massive problem in this part of London but for some reason it seems to have become like normality.”
On July 1, 2016 the same image was spotted outside West Ealing station and then again the next day on a pillar near St Christopher's church in Hanwell.
The Jewish Socialists’ Group believe the changes to the British political landscape are to blame for the frequency of hate crimes, but warned that anti-Semitism has always been prevalent.
A spokeswoman for the group, Julia Bard, said: “Anti-Semitism has never gone away, but since the referendum result, the far right has been much more confident about expressing their ideas publicly and sometimes violently.
“In the wake of the Brexit vote, there has been a rise in racist and fascist incidents and attacks against all minorities, including Jews.
“None of us can fight it alone.”
According to the Community Security Trust, incidents of anti-Semitism rose by 11% in the first six months of 2016.
The organisation, which provides security to the UK Jewish community, has condemned the act and advised people to be vigilant against such vitriolic attacks.
Deputy director of communications Dave Rich said: “This is a particularly distressing image and we fully understand why anyone would be very offended by it.
“We urge anyone who knows anything about this to report it to the police.”
If you are a witness to or a victim of any forms of anti-Semitic behaviour, the CST has a dedicated team which deals with anti-Semitic incidents and provides victim support, while respecting your confidentiality at all times.
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