THE number of anti-Semitic incidents in the UK more than doubled last year to reach a record high, a charity has warned.
The Community Security Trust (CST), which monitors anti-Semitism, recorded 1,168 incidents across the UK in 2014, up from 535 the previous year.
Just 31 of those incidents took place in Scotland, however this was also more than double the 14 reported in 2013.
Glasgow recorded more incidents than any other part of the country with 21 anti-Semitic instances - a ten-fold increase on the previous year which saw just two.
The CST claimed the conflict in Israel and Gaza in July and August last year was the single biggest factor in the record high.
Charity chief executive David Delew said: "The Jewish community should not be defined by anti-Semitism but last year's large increase in recorded incidents shows just how easily anti-Semitic attitudes can erupt into race hate abuse, threats and attacks.
"Thankfully most of the incidents were not violent but they were still shocking and upsetting for those who suffered them, and for the wider Jewish community."
The charity's report outlined a number of anti-Semitic incidents in Scotland, including one in Edinburgh where a 12-year-old boy sprayed deodorant on a Jewish girl from his school while saying "gas the Jews".
In Glasgow in August last year, a woman was reading the Jewish Telegraph when a man shouted anti-Semitic abuse at her.
Meanwhile in November, following a news broadcast about the possible opening of a Holocaust study centre in Scotland, several anti-Semitic comments were also posted on a TV channel's Facebook page.
The comments included: "Don't the Jews own most of the banks?", "The Holohoax or Holocaust" and "the so-called 'holocaust' is nothing but a fabrication and down right demonisation of the German people ... the world has been fooled by the Jewish holocaust political weapon".
Home Secretary Theresa May described the report as "deeply concerning", saying: "Britain without its Jews would not be Britain."
She added: "I am absolutely clear that everyone in this country, including members of Britain's Jewish community, should be able to live their lives free from racial and religious hatred and harassment. No one should live in fear because of their beliefs or who they are."
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