CCTV footage has captured the shocking moment a Jewish teenage boy was ‘pelted with stones’ as he walked to the synagogue in a broad daylight attack in north London.
The Met has now launched an investigation into the assault on the boy, believed to be aged 16, which is being treated as a hate crime, which took place on Rookwood Road, Hackney, at around 5.55pm on Saturday, May 11.
The boy, dressed in traditional Jewish clothing, was chased by three men, one of whom threw stones at him, in the Stamford Hill area of London.
The north London area 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 terror attacks on Israel.
Suspected hate crimes reported to police in recent months include thugs on bicycles randomly attacking pedestrians in traditional Jewish clothing, a man walking down the street threatening to “kill” Jews and an alleged robbery involving a 20-year-old year-old woman is knocked unconscious.
CCTV footage has captured the shocking moment a teenage Jewish boy was ‘pelted with stones’ as he walked to the synagogue in a broad daylight attack in north London
The Met has now launched an investigation into the assault on the boy, believed to be aged 16, which is being treated as a hate crime, which took place on Rookwood Road, Hackney at around 5.55pm on Saturday, May 11.
The boy, dressed in traditional Jewish clothing, was chased by three men, one of whom threw stones at him, in the Stamford Hill area of London.
The victim in the footage is reportedly ‘doing well’ after the attack, having become accustomed to the anti-Semitism in the area. JC reports.
The Metropolitan Police said: ‘An investigation is underway following a reported assault on a man in Rookwood Road, N16.
‘At around 5.55pm on Saturday, May 11, the victim – a Jewish man – was walking on Rookwood Road, N16, when he was approached by another man and an object was allegedly thrown at him.
‘The incident was reported to police the following day and an investigation was launched by officers from Hackney. At this stage the incident is being treated as a hate crime.
‘We are aware of a video being shared online and this will form part of our investigation. We are in contact with the Shomrim and our investigations are still ongoing.
“No arrest has been made at this time.
‘Anyone with information should call 101, quoting reference CAD 8409/23MAY. You can also pass on information anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.’
Neighborhood Watch Shomrim chief Chaim Hochhauser told the newspaper that the unprovoked attack happened as the victim was walking to the 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 October 7 terror attacks on Israel.
He said that since the October 7 attacks, the perpetrators have caused “quite a lot of trouble” in attempts to “scare and harm the Jewish community.”
Police are investigating the alleged assault, but no arrests have yet been made.
Shomrim President Rabbi Herschel Gluck told the JC that the hate crimes in the area were committed by white “yobs” who are “the very same people who commit Islamophobia.”
He added that they did this not because of a side they have chosen in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, but because they want to attack vulnerable communities, including Muslim groups.
But Gary Mond, chairman of the British National Jewish 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 that there was evidence that the perpetrators were ‘jobs’, there had been a huge increase in the number of attacks on Jews versus other minorities, showing that there is a ‘major problem facing the British Jewish community is confronted and that strong enforcement of the law is needed’. ‘.