Queen's University says swastika incident 'did not happen' on campus

The Lanyon Building at Queen's University, BelfastGetty Images

The university issued a statement on Friday in response to comments made by the government's independent adviser on antisemitism, Lord Mann

Queen's University Belfast has said claims of swastikas being sent to a Jewish student "did not happen" at the university or anywhere on its campus.

The university issued a statement on Friday in response to comments made by the government's independent adviser on antisemitism, Lord Mann.

The peer visited Belfast on Wednesday to meet members of the Jewish community and political parties.

Speaking after the visit, he said a Jewish student had been sent swastikas.

Lord Mann said the incident happened after the student wore a Jewish religious symbol around their neck.

He described the swastika, which is associated with Nazism, being sent to the individual as "not normal behaviour" and said "it is extremist behaviour and it is dangerous".

Speaking to BBC News NI on Friday evening, Lord Mann questioned the university's statement, which was posted on social media.

"How do they know where this hasn't happened? The simple answer is that they do not know," Lord Mann said.

He said the student may not have reported the incident yet or may choose not to do so and questioned how the university can be in any position to rule out locations of where this incident took place.

When asked by BBC News NI, Lord Mann reiterated that he did not want to end up identifying the person by specifying any further details surrounding the incident.

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Lord Mann said the incident was "not normal behaviour, it is extremist behaviour"

Speaking previously to Good Morning Ulster, Lord Mann said the conflict between Israel and Hamas had led to religious attacks in the UK.

"Why are they picking on vulnerable, literally isolated Jewish students to vent this hatred?" he asked.

"Where's the hatred coming from and what are the systems for dealing with this?"

Lord Mann said young Jewish people were "keeping their heads down" and are "masking their identity" in terms of wearing religious symbols.

'Distressing and difficult times'

In their statement on Friday, the university said: "Queen's University Belfast has looked into yesterday's media reports of an anti-Semitic incident and can confirm it did not happen at Queen's or anywhere on our campus."

It continued: "We are continuing to engage with student representatives and are offering support to anyone who has been affected in any way during these distressing and difficult times.

"We are also encouraging anyone else aware of or affected by any anti-Semitic behaviour to engage with us and the PSNI directly."

The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas started on 7 October when Hamas killed more than 1,400 people in Israel and kidnapped more than 200 others.

The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said more than 9,000 people had been killed there since Israel began bombing the territory.

More on Israel-Gaza war

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