Some Jewish teens were subjected to ‘anti-Semitic’ attack on Oxford Street in central London, on the second night of Hanukkah.
A video shared online showed a gang of men shouting threats, hurling abuse and trying to smash the windows as shoppers watched. Inside the bus, passengers were heard yelling ‘We are Jewish’ and ‘Go, go, drive’ as one of the attackers took off his trainer and began hitting the glass.
As the vehicle drove off, some of the men chased after it and made obscene gestures. Metropolitan Police confirmed the footage originally shared by the Jewish Chronicle, adding that it is being investigated and will be treated as a hate crime.
The ‘vile’ scenes were condemned across the Jewish community on Wednesday, December 1. A spokesperson for the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity which monitors anti-Semitic incidents and provides security support to British Jews, said;
‘London is a city where Jewish people must be able to celebrate our festivals and enjoy an open, confident Jewish way of life.
‘This disgusting incident goes against everything this city stands for and should be condemned by all.’
London’s mayor Sadiq Khan also shared a message of support, saying;
‘We take a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism in London.
‘Police are rightly investigating this vile incident on Oxford Street as a hate crime.’
The attack was also condemned by Councillor Rachael Robathan, leader of Westminster City Council.
She said;
‘Deeply disturbing scenes of what appears to be an anti-Semitic attack against Jewish teenagers in Oxford Street.
‘We utterly condemn this scenes and I will be raising this with @metpolice UK. We stand shoulder to shoulder with our Jewish community’
Watch the video below………………