Racism and religious intolerance are rising in Europe, with Muslims and Jews targeted in a misguided backlash against global terrorism and Middle East violence, delegates at an international conference said.

European Jewish leaders today said anti-Semitism was on the rise and called on the European Union and national governments to take action against it.

Anti-Semitic violence is on the rise in several EU countries, including Britain, with “young white men” the main perpetrators, the EU’s anti-racism office said today.

Jewish leaders appealed to the European Union today to take a lead in combatting a perceived revival of anti-Semitism, warning that official indifference was leading to a return of the continent’s historic “monster”.