SWC Welcomes Ofcom’s Findings Regarding BBC Reporting of Anti-Semitic Attack on Jewish Students During Hanukkah

November 7, 2022

The Simon Wiesenthal Center today welcomed the findings of Media watchdog Ofcom who concluded the BBC committed “significant editorial failings” in its reporting of an anti-Semitic attack on Jewish students travelling on a bus in London.

The incident on November 29 2021, involved a group of about 40 young Jewish people aboard a Hanukkah party bus travelling along London’s Oxford Street that was attacked by a group of men who swore, made obscene gestures and threw a shopping basket at them.

In its coverage, the BBC reported that an anti-Muslim slur had been heard from inside the bus.

The body said its investigation found the broadcaster failed to observe its editorial guidelines to report news with “due accuracy and due impartiality”.

“The report confirms that the BBC blew its reportage and its response to protests after the ugly unprovoked anti-Semitic attacks by a number of Muslims in London on Hanukkah. This is but one incident that led the SWC to list the BBC on its Top 10 anti-Semitism list. BBC displays bias in its coverage from the Jewish community to the Jewish state,” stated Rabbi Abraham Cooper, Associate Dean and Director of Global Social Action 

For further information, please email Michele Alkin, Director of Global Communications at malkin@wiesenthal.com or Shawn Rodgers at srodgers@wiesenthal.com, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is an international Jewish human rights organization numbering over 400.000 members. It holds consultative status at the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the OAS, and the Latin American Parliament (PARLATINO).