During an unprovoked anti-Semitic attack on a bus, a man pretending to have a knife yelled, “You should all go to the gas chambers,” frightening Jewish passengers.
According to witnesses, the stranger threatened to kill Jewish children and said, “Shame Hitler didn’t kill you.”
The incident happened aboard a 254 bus on Thursday afternoon while it was travelling along Upper Clapton Road in Hackney, north London.
A sizable ultra-Orthodox Jewish community resides in the capital’s Stamford Hill, where some of the passengers were travelling.
Volunteers from Shomrim, a Jewish neighbourhood watch group, assisted in detaining the man after the bus driver halted the vehicle and set off an alarm in response to his outburst.
After then, he was taken into custody by Met Police on suspicion of violating the Public Order Act and making threats to kill.
The act is being investigated by police as an anti-Semitic hate crime, and the individual is still being held.
A Transport for London (TfL) representative informed Daily Mail that the event “absolutely appalled” them.
The Daily Mail was informed by Met Police that on Thursday, May 7, at 3:51 p.m., police were called in response to complaints that a man on a bus on Upper Clapton Road was making threats.
During an unprovoked anti-Semitic attack on a bus, a man brandishing a knife yelled, “You should all go to the gas chambers,” frightening Jewish passengers.
Officers responded and detained a 50-year-old man on suspicion of making threats to kill and committing an offence under Section 4A of the Public Order Act, according to Met Police. The guy is still in jail. He is still being held by the police. The man was searched, but no weapon was discovered.
These kinds of instances are taken very seriously by the Met. Our investigations are ongoing and the event is being investigated as an anti-Semitic hate crime.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 555 111 or police at 101, referencing CAD 5358/7MAY.
“We are absolutely appalled by this report,” stated Siwan Hayward, TfL’s director of security policing and enforcement. When utilising our network, nobody should ever have to worry about or encounter abuse.
We have a zero-tolerance stance against hate crimes of any kind, and we collaborate with law enforcement to prosecute anyone who mistreats our clients or employees.
Together with the bus operator, who will provide video from the CCTV cameras that are installed on every bus, we are assisting the police in their investigation.
“We urge anyone who witnessed or experienced this incident to get in touch with the police.”
The incident happened just one day after it was revealed that three 14-year-old Jewish schoolboys had been forced to escape for their lives as a car approached them quickly and climbed the sidewalk in what appeared to be an anti-Semitic attack.
In Hendon, north London, the frightened students were waiting to cross the street near their school when a black saloon car veered off the road and nearly struck them.
During the incident on April 20, at approximately 3.40 p.m., the driver manoeuvred his vehicle back onto the road and towards the A406 as they struggled to get out of the way.
On April 20, a group of Jewish youngsters in Hendon, north London, were leaving school when a black saloon car pulled up on the pavement near this intersection.
The attempted ramming occurred in the midst of several anti-Semitic acts that have targeted the Jewish population in the capital in recent weeks.
Any witnesses or dash cam footage from the vicinity at the time are being sought after by Met Police as part of their investigation.
The planned ramming occurred just three days after arsonists set fire to the previous location of a Jewish organization in Hendon, which is just a five-minute drive away, and after a string of anti-Semitic events that have targeted the Jewish population in the capital in recent weeks.
These include an attempt on April 28 to set fire to a memorial wall in Golders Green and two synagogues in neighbouring Finchley and Kenton.
The double stabbing that occurred in Golders Green last week on April 29, when two Jewish men were stabbed in broad daylight, is being investigated by police as a possible act of terrorism.
One of the boys’ fathers claimed that their son was “shaken, but with it” because there were several kids wearing kippot (skullcaps) in the area.
“They were obviously Jewish children,” he remarked. He observed these children while he was waiting at the lights and recognised an opportunity.
Another parent of a Hasmonean High School Year 11 student told Daily Mail they were “horrified” by the “would-be ramming.”
“I’m just shocked, but with the current situation, with anti-Semitism being so acceptable, I just feel what else [is coming our way]?” they remarked.This is unlike anything I have ever encountered in my life. I’ve spent my entire life in England—53 years—and now I have to keep an eye out for any cars that might be driving close to my kids. It’s incredible.
Anti-Semitic hate crimes in London are at their highest level in two years, according to information released by Met Police on Wednesday.
The borough of Barnet, which includes Hendon, Finchley, and Golders Green, is where most of the occurrences have been reported.
According to the new figures, there were almost 140 offences reported in the capital in April, compared to 98 in March and 67 in February.
With 51 out of 140 (36%), the borough of Barnet had the most number.
To provide a “more visible, intelligence-led and co-ordinated presence focused on protecting Jewish communities across London,” Met Police responded by announcing the formation of a community protection squad consisting of one hundred additional officers.
The new squad will include specialised protection and counterterrorism capabilities in addition to community policing.
The Met further stated that the Jewish community “faces some of the highest levels of hate crime alongside significant terrorist and hostile state threats.”
The incident was reported at the same time when anti-Semitic hate crimes in London are at their highest level in two years, according to the Met Police. Pictured: During a demonstration last week outside Downing Street organised by the Campaign Against Antisemitism, demonstrators held up signs and flags.
“CST welcomes the Metropolitan Police’s announcement of a new dedicated Community Protection Team to tackle antisemitic hate crimes and protect the Jewish community in London,” a spokesman for the Community Security Trust (CST) told the Daily Mail. “This new measure is an important step at a time of heightened anti-Jewish hatred and reflects the seriousness of the threats currently facing the community.”
The rise in arrests for antisemitic hate crimes in recent weeks is a positive indication that the police are taking effective action, which we hope will send a strong message to potential offenders as well as the Jewish community.
“We welcome efforts to build a lasting model of protection to tackle this hatred, and we will continue to work closely with the police, government, and other partners to tackle antisemitic hate crime and to protect Jewish life.”
The Daily Mail was informed by a Campaign Against Antisemitism spokesman:There is nothing that these anti-Semitic criminals won’t do, including attacks on ambulances and suspected attacks on children.
“What’s so tragic is that nothing surprises British Jews anymore, because all of this could have been avoided if the authorities had followed our advice two years ago and carried out their duties.” “They refused, and now we and our children are paying the price for their stubborn ineptitude.”
