Belfast’s dwindling Jewish community has been subjected to online antisemitic abuse.
The Belfast Jewish Community group confirmed that the abuse contained a racist image sent to its Facebook page. The incident comes just over six months after 13 Jewish graves were desecrated in Belfast’s city cemetery.
A spokesperson for the group said Jews in Belfast would be stepping up security following the abuse including seeking help from the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Michael Black said they have also been in touch with the Community Security Trust – the body in the UK that oversees the protecting of Jewish communities – for advice.
“We have to take security very seriously because of events that have been happening across Europe,” Black said. “I find it very sad that there are people out there who feel that they have to express their antisemitism or racial prejudices in such a way.”
Black confirmed that there have still been no arrests in connection with the vandalism of the Jewish graves last August. Work is currently underway to restore the Jewish part of the cemetery, which dates back to 1871.
The Ulster Unionist party’s north Belfast assembly election candidate Robert Foster condemned those behind the latest incident of antisemitism directed at Belfast’s estimated 80 Jews.
Foster said: “Any such threats must be taken seriously bearing in mind the terror attacks which have taken place in Europe, often targeting the Jewish community. Furthermore, 13 Jewish graves were damaged in an attack at the city cemetery in August, and I believe it is vital that public representatives should speak out in condemnation of all these type of incidents.
