Students from prestigious Perth school suspended over antisemitic message in group chat

Students have been suspended over antisemitic bullying at a prestigious private school.

The incident happened in a group chat online and involved students from Wesley College in South Perth.

They are accused of sharing antisemitic language and memes that targeted a classmate.

The school has not revealed how many students were involved.

“The college acted immediately,” the school said in a statement.

“The students responsible were suspended and the matter was addressed directly with the students and families involved.”

In a statement, the family of the bullied student said it was “deeply disappointed this matter has occurred” and they are “satisfied” with how the school had responded.

“The school was not advised of this issue by our son but rather by concerned students,” the family said.

The school says antisemitism has no place at the college.

Premier Roger Cook said “this sort of behaviour is unacceptable and we condemn it”.

“I hope that the school takes every action necessary to ensure ... (it) continues to provide a safe and peaceful community for its students,” Cook said.

“Western Australia is a peaceful place, it’s an inclusive society and we want to make sure that everyone can live here in peace.

“I strongly condemn these allegations in the strongest possible terms”.

A Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has been told of alleged antisemitism faced by staff and students at Australian primary and secondary schools.

Australia’s special envoy to combat Jewish hate, Jillian Segal, has called for antisemitism training to be rolled out across every level of education.

In June a WA teenager narrowly avoided jail for threatening to assassinate the prime minister and NSW premier.