Latest / Antisemitism Watch / Antisemitism Watch - October 3, 2026, 09 AM Eastern

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Antisemitism Watch - October 3, 2026, 09 AM Eastern · Antisemitism Watch

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  Speaker 1: You're listening to Antisemitism Watch, I'm Rachel Adler. Today, we're
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  Speaker 1: tracking alleged state-directed terror plots, physical attacks on Jewish institutions,
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  Speaker 1: and institutional responses to rising antisemitism. We begin with a
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  Speaker 1: significant development in the UK, where prosecutors allege an Iranian-directed
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  Speaker 1: terror plot targeted the Jewish community in Manchester. This alleged plot,
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  Speaker 1: involving two Iranian men, Salam Ahmadian and Rahman Salehai, who
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  Speaker 1: have been charged with preparing acts of terrorism, underscores the
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  Speaker 1: severity of threats facing Jewish communities. According to prosecutors, the
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  Speaker 1: pair conducted hostile reconnaissance at Heaton Park Synagogue, a site
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  Speaker 1: previously subjected to a fatal terrorist attack and also at
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  Speaker 1: the Jewish Museum. Counter-terrorism policing reported the men were in
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  Speaker 1: contact with an Iranian national who allegedly directed and coordinated
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  Speaker 1: the planned attack, which involved a homemade explosive device. Both
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  Speaker 1: men appeared at Westminster Magistrate's Court on Saturday and were
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  Speaker 1: remanded into custody, with a hearing set for October 23.
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  Speaker 1: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated this news will be deeply
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  Speaker 1: distressing for our Jewish communities, especially noting the timing near
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  Speaker 1: Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and the one-year anniversary of
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  Speaker 1: the previous attack at Heaton Park Synagogue. In Canada, a
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  Speaker 1: shooting at the Sons of Jacob Synagogue in Belleville, Ontario,
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  Speaker 1: on September 25th, serves as another stark example of physical
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  Speaker 1: violence targeting Jewish institutions and prompts reflection on broader antisemitism.
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  Speaker 1: The incident left bullet holes in the synagogues, stained glass windows,
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  Speaker 1: and injured Constable Jeff Smith. Author Thomas Froese, writing for
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  Speaker 1: The Spectator, frames this event within a wider crisis, noting
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  Speaker 1: that while Jewish Canadians comprise about 1% of the population,
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  Speaker 1: they are targeted in approximately 70% of religiously motivated hate crimes,
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  Speaker 1: with nearly 800 incidents reported last year. Frost calls for
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  Speaker 1: greater courage from leaders and citizens alike to challenge antisemitism.
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  Speaker 1: On university campuses, student journalists are contributing to the fight
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  Speaker 1: against antisemitism by aiding investigations. According to reporting by the
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  Speaker 1: Charlotte Observer, student journalists have assisted government probes into antisemitism,
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  Speaker 1: highlighting the crucial role of campus newsrooms in tracking these incidents. Finally,
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  Speaker 1: here in New York City, an institutional response is underway.
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  Speaker 1: Mayor Zoran Mamdani has launched a plan to combat antisemitism,
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  Speaker 1: a move that comes amidst a reported rise in hate
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  Speaker 1: crimes targeting Jewish New Yorkers. A specific woman has been
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  Speaker 1: appointed to lead this new initiative. I'm Rachel Adler, thank
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  Speaker 1: you for listening to Antisemitism Watch. Follow Antisemitism Watch in
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: your podcast app so you don't miss the next update.
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  Speaker 1: This report was generated with AI assistance and may contain inaccuracies.
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  Speaker 1: Please verify important details with primary sources.