Yes, there was plenty of antisemitism on U.K. university campuses before the Oct. 7 attack. Lord John Mann, the U.K. Government's Independent Adviser on Antisemitism, indicated in a written report that antisemitic incidents on campus had increased significantly in the period 2020-22 from previous years. See Understanding Jewish Experience in Higher Education, (May 2023) https://antisemitism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Understanding-Jewish-Experience-in-Higher-Education.pdf The Bangkok Chabad House increased security after the 2008 Mumbai attack. The Chabad House in Mumbai, India, had been one of the targets and six Jews were murdered, including two rabbis. The overall attack hit multiple sites in Mumbai and killed 164 people. In 2012, Thai police arrested a Hezbollah operative suspected of planning an attack on the Bangkok Chabad House. The operative had acquired chemicals that could be used in making bombs. He was tried. convicted and imprisoned in Thailand, but released after 2 and a half years. Hezbollah Operative Convicted In Thailand An alleged Hezbollah operative has been convicted in Thailand of illegal possession of a large amount of bomb-making materials. During the investigation, Thai police uncovered a warehouse where nearly three tons of explosive material were being stored – enough for multiple attacks. https://editorials.voa.gov/a/hezbollah-operative-convicted-in-thailand/1755720.html A few weeks earlier, a Thai court had given two Iranians lengthy sentences for a bungled bomb plot. Instant Karma for one of the terrorists. Iranians convicted over Bangkok bomb plot Saeid Moradi, 29, whose legs were blown off when a bomb he attempted to throw at police detonated at his feet, was sentenced to life in prison for carrying explosives as well as for attempted murder. Mohammad Kharzei, 43, was jailed for 15 years for possessing explosives. The men were detained after a cache of homemade explosives destroyed the roof of their house in an upscale neighbourhood in of the Thai capital on 14 February last year. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/22/thai-court-convicts-iranians-bomb-plot There was certainly reason for the Chabad House to increase security. Even without a full-out terror attack, there was always a risk a disgruntled individual or small group could attempt to disrupt activities, especially after Oct. 7. The Jews responsible for the Bangkok Chabad House aren't paranoid. They have real enemies who want to kill them.
Create an account or sign in to comment