‘Deeply shocking’ swastika graffiti has been found inside an Oxford college, its Principal has said, as pro-Gaza protesters at the elite university clashed with police.
Sir Malcolm Evans, who leads Regent’s Park College, told students ‘appropriate action will be taken should we become aware of the identity of those responsible’.
It is understood the Nazi symbols were found on the walls of two toilet cubicles next to the college’s Hall – its dining room – leaving Jewish students ‘deeply upset’.
His message came on Thursday, as Oxford students tried and failed to occupy a building in their latest demonstration against Israel’s war in Gaza, leading to 16 being arrested.
Oxford Action for Palestine, which is attempting to mimic the radical pro-Palestine protests seen on US campuses, said the university had ‘enabled an unprecedented level of violence against students’ following the clash.
Regent’s Park College was founded 1752 and has strong ties with the Baptists
Police arrested Oxford students trying to occupy a university building yesterday
Protesters outside waving Palestinian flags during an attempted occupation of a building
Students said they were ‘punched in the face’ as the protest was broken up
A heavy police presence at the scene of the protest in the centre of historic university city
They claimed that those at the protest in Wellington Square, beside university administration buildings, were ‘punched in the face’ while others suffered ‘abrasions’ and ‘students’ glasses were broken’.
The violence comes weeks after anti-Israel students set up a ‘liberated zone’ encampment on a public green in front of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, where those wishing to enter are made to sign an online pledge opposing the ‘Zionist entity’.
In his message to students about the incident in Regent’s Park College, Sir Malcolm wrote: ‘Early this week anti-Semitic graffiti in the form of a number of swastikas was found within the College. This is deeply shocking and is a matter that the College, and I personally, take extremely seriously. Such behaviour has no place here and cannot be considered acceptable under any circumstances.’
He went on to claim: ‘We do not know who did this or why it was done; but be assured that appropriate action will be taken should we become aware of the identity of those responsible – as it would in respect of any such display of hatred or hostility towards members of our College, or others.’
The perpetrators of the graffiti are unknown and there is no evidence they are linked to any pro-Palestine group.
But the Union of Jewish Students and the Oxford Jewish Society said the incident might be linked to student union motions in the college about the conflict in the Middle East, a suspicion also held by senior figures in the college who said it was ‘hard not to connect’ them together.
‘We are angered and deeply upset to hear of antisemitic graffiti at Regents Park College, reported by students to be Nazi Swastikas’, the Union of Jewish Students and the Oxford Jewish Society said.
‘Since October 7th, we have seen an overwhelming surge in antisemitism on campus, and this has only increased in recent weeks. Shamefully, our experiences have been denied and invalidated by JCR and MCR motions accusing us of “weaponising antisemitism”. Accusing minority groups of weaponizing their experiences is a stain on our campus community. Jewish students must not be left alone in the fight against antisemitism.
‘We call on the university to show zero tolerance to the antisemitic and hostile atmosphere which has been allowed to flourish at Oxford University.’
Students have been camping out since the start of the month in support of Palestine
Oxford Action for Palestine has previously spoken out against the ‘university’s lack of engagement’ with their demands, which include Oxford divesting and boycotting Israel and ending its ‘complicity in scholasticide’.
On Saturday, the group staged a ‘Gaza die-in’ protest outside the Sheldonian Theatre and Bodleian Library while graduations were taking place.
Furious members of the group posted a video on social media on Saturday, accusing a security guard of ‘slamming the door on the heads of students protesting the university’s complicity in genocide’.
In fact, the video showed the member of staff weakly prodding them with his foot as he tries to access a door that they are obstructing.
University chiefs were summoned to Downing Street earlier this month to discuss the ‘unacceptable’ rise of anti-Semitism at universities and the need for campuses to be ‘safe’ for Jewish students.
The University of Oxford and Regent’s Park College were contacted for comment.
Thames Valley police was also contacted.
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