Three Jewish women assaulted in suspected antisemitic attack in London

A 33-year-old man remained in custody on Tuesday after allegedly assaulting three Jewish women in northeast London, including one pushing a baby in a stroller, the Metropolitan Police told JNS.

Police are treating Monday’s incident in the Clapton Common area as a suspected antisemitic hate crime. The women are believed to have suffered minor injuries.

Officers were called at about 1:40 p.m. after volunteers from the Jewish neighborhood security group Shomrim detained a suspect. Police arrived within minutes and arrested the man on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault.

Shomrim said volunteers responded after a visibly Jewish woman reported being punched in the face. They arrived about 30 seconds later and witnessed another Jewish woman being punched twice in the face, according to the group.

The victims told Shomrim they believed they had been targeted because they were Jewish.

“This was an alarming and distressing incident and we are grateful to our partners in the Shomrim for detaining a suspect prior to the arrival of officers,” said Chief Inspector Erica Crawshaw.

“Antisemitic behaviour and hate crime of any kind will not be tolerated,” she added.

Police increased patrols and were speaking with Jewish community leaders in Hackney to provide reassurance, Crawshaw said.

The European Jewish Congress condemned the assaults in a statement posted Tuesday on X.

“These shocking attacks are utterly unacceptable. Jewish women should not have to fear violence simply for being visibly Jewish,” the organization said. “We stand in solidarity with the victims and London’s Jewish community, and commend Shomrim volunteers for their swift intervention.”

The suspect was also arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm in connection with an Oct. 16 assault on a woman believed to be known to him in Islington. Police told JNS that incident was believed to be unrelated and was not being treated as a hate crime.