CCTV captured the shocking moment a Jewish teenager was “pelted with stones” as he walked to synagogue in a broad daylight attack in north London.
The Met has launched an investigation into the assault on the boy, believed to be 16, which is being treated as a hate crime, which took place on Rookwood Road, Hackney, at around 5.55pm on Saturday 11 May.
The boy, dressed in traditional Jewish clothing, was chased by three men, one of whom was throwing stones at him, in the Stamford Hill area of London.
The north London neighborhood is home to the largest population of Hasidic Jews in Europe and has long been plagued by anti-Semitic attacks, but these appear to have increased in intensity since the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel.
Alleged hate crimes reported to police in recent months include thugs on bicycles randomly attacking pedestrians dressed in traditional Jewish clothing, a man walking down a street threatening to “kill” Jews, and an alleged robbery in which a 20-year-old woman was beaten until she was unconscious.
CCTV captured the shocking moment a Jewish teenager was “pelted with stones” as he walked to synagogue in a broad daylight attack in north London.
The Met has launched an investigation into the assault on the boy, believed to be 16, which is being treated as a hate crime, which took place on Rookwood Road, Hackney, at around 5.55pm on Saturday 11 May.
The boy, dressed in traditional Jewish clothing, was chased by three men, one of whom was throwing stones at him, in the Stamford Hill area of London.
The victim in the images is reportedly “doing well” after the attack, having become accustomed to anti-Semitism in the area, according to reports. jc reports.
The Metropolitan Police said: ‘An investigation is underway following a report of an assault on a man on Rookwood Road, N16.
‘At around 5.55pm on Saturday 11 May, the victim, a Jewish man, was walking along Rookwood Road, N16 when another man approached him and allegedly threw an object at him.
‘The incident was reported to police the following day and officers based in Hackney launched an investigation. At this time, the incident is being treated as a hate crime.
‘We are aware that a video has been shared online and this will form part of our enquiries. We are in contact with the Shomrim and our investigations are ongoing.
‘No arrests have been made at this time.
‘Anyone with information should call 101, quoting the reference CAD 8409/23MAY. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.’
Shomrim neighborhood watch chief Chaim Hochhauser told the outlet that the unprovoked attack occurred while the victim was walking to synagogue on Shabbat.
The North London neighborhood of Stamford Hill (file photo) is home to the largest population of Hasidic Jews in Europe and has long been plagued by anti-Semitic attacks, but these appear to have increased in intensity since the terrorist attacks of 7 October against Israel.
He said the perpetrators have caused “quite a bit of trouble” since the Oct. 7 attacks, in an attempt to “scare and harm the Jewish community.”
Police are investigating the alleged assault but so far no arrests have been made.
Shomrim president Rabbi Herschel Gluck told the JC that hate crimes in the area were being committed by white “thugs” who are “the exact same people who commit Islamophobia.”
He added that they were not doing it to take sides in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, but because they want to attack vulnerable communities, including Muslim groups.
But Gary Mond, president of the United Kingdom’s Jewish National Assembly, told the Jerusalem Post that the incident was “yet another example of the growth of Jew-hatred in Britain”, especially in areas with large Jewish populations.
He said that while Rabbi Gluck was right in saying there was evidence that the perpetrators were “thugs,” there was a huge increase in attacks on Jews versus other minorities, showing a “huge problem facing the Jewish community of Britain and that vigorous enforcement of the law is needed. ‘.
