Police are hunting for a racist yob who targeted Jewish people in London‘s Stamford Hill in a string of anti-Semitic attacks.
The unknown male was caught on CCTV throwing the hats off of Jewish men close to a synagogue in Hackney, with reports of the same man assaulting a child and punching other victims in the head.
Metropolitan Police officers were made aware of the horrific incident and raced to the scene on Cazenove Road shortly after 2pm on Thursday December 21, although the suspect had fled before they arrived.
The force said no arrests had yet been made but detectives have identified one of the victims and are now searching for the attacker and any other victims.
It comes amid a steep surge in reports of antisemitic incidents following the increased conflict in Gaza, after Hamas terrorists killed more than 1,400 people in Israel in a sneak attack on October 7.
Footage showed a yob throwing the hats off of Jewish men close to a synagogue in Hackney, with reports of the same man assaulting a child and punching other victims in the head
He was then seen swiping out at Jewish men who were standing on the pavement outside a synagogue
The footage, which was shared to social media, showed a man appearing to target men close to a synagogue while cycling through Stamford Hill, an area known for its large Jewish population.
The video, which was taken on an unknown date in Cazenove Road, shows the yob moving along the pavement on the bike before swiping at the heads of men walking past him.
CCTV captured the moment two men had their hats batted off, while the Shomrim neighbourhood watch group, which shared the footage, claimed some others had been physically hit in the head.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: ‘Since the beginning of the conflict in Israel and Gaza, we have increased reassurance patrols across Stamford Hill and the wider area.
‘I would encourage anyone who has information about a suspect or anyone who was a victim of one of these hate offences to contact the team of detectives who are working with the local community to solve this crime.
‘We have been clear that hate has no place in London, and any allegation of antisemitism reported to police will be investigated robustly.’
A police spokesperson added: ‘Police in Hackney are appealing for information about a suspect who assaulted members of the Jewish community.
‘Officers were called shortly after 14:00hrs on Thursday, 21 December to reports that a person on a bicycle had knocked the hats off a number of people before assaulting a child on Cazenove Road, N16.
