Jewish politician in UK said he was told to 'go back to Auschwitz'

Stephen Woods, a Jewish member of the British Conservative party, said he was told to “go back to Auschwitz” by protesters during this year’s Conservative Party Conference.

“The abuse we had to endure was despicable, with a number of protestors screaming ‘Jewish Tory scum, get back to Auschwitz,” Woods told the Jewish Chronicle, adding “I have never heard such vile language. The whole incident left us all shaken up.”

Others reported being targeted, as well:

The Telegraph reports that thousands of anti-austerity marchers protested the three-day conference, and that the rallies turned ugly at times:

Although the protest was largely good-natured, there have been four arrests, including one man for allegedly spitting at a journalist. A smartly-dressed Tory conference-goer was also hit by an egg as the demonstration made its way through the city centre.

The Jewish News noted that “protestors had chanted ‘Nazi’ and ‘Tory scum’ at hundreds of delegates, “and on social media, critics have been quick to compare the conference to a Nazi rally:

The reports come as European leaders warn against rising anti-Semitic attacks and sentiment throughout the continent.

Danielle Wiener-Bronner is a news reporter.