A 33-year-old man has been arrested in northeast London after three Jewish women were allegedly assaulted in an incident being investigated as a suspected antisemitic hate crime. One of the victims was reportedly pushing a baby in a pram when the attack occurred, The Jerusalem Post reports
Metropolitan Police officers responded to reports of the assaults in the Clapton Common area of Hackney at approximately 1.40 pm on Monday.
Before police arrived, volunteers from Shomrim London, a Jewish community neighbourhood watch organisation, had detained the suspect.
According to the BBC, the three women are believed to have sustained minor injuries.
Police arrested the man on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault. He was also arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm in connection with a separate alleged assault in Islington on Friday, October 16.
The suspect remained in police custody while investigations continued.
Chief Inspector Erica Crawshaw of the Metropolitan Police described the attacks as “an alarming and distressing incident” and praised Shomrim volunteers for their intervention.
Acknowledging the anxiety caused among local Jewish residents, Crawshaw said officers were taking additional measures to reassure the community.
“We have increased patrols in the area, and we are speaking to community leaders to provide further reassurance,” she said.
“We recognize the concern that this incident will have caused the Jewish community here in Hackney,” Crawshaw added.
The Metropolitan Police appealed for witnesses and anyone with information about the attacks to contact investigators. Officers also encouraged other people who believed they may have been assaulted by the suspect to come forward.
photo credit: REUTERS/JAIMI JOY
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