Antisemitic and Islamaphobic incidents have almost doubled in just over a week in London, Reuters reports citing police data, in the wake of the attack by Hamas on southern Israel nearly three weeks ago and subsequent bombardment by Israel of Gaza.

There have been growing tensions in Britain and elsewhere since Hamas rampaged through Israeli towns and Israel besieged Gaza in response, with pro-Palestinian demonstrations and vigils held by Jewish groups in solidarity with hostages, some of whom are British, who were taken by the Palestinian group.

Commander Kyle Gordon said there have been 408 antisemitic incidents recorded in the British capital so far this month compared to 28 in the same period last year, while there have been 174 Islamophobic offences compared to 65.