A group of Jewish schoolchildren were “punched and kicked” yesterday afternoon in a suspected hate crime attack at a London tube station.
British Transport Police were called to Belsize Park station in North London yesterday at 4pm after a report that the children had been assaulted.
The children, who are understood to be students at Hasmonean school, were not “seriously hurt” in the “frightening experience,” which reportedly involved students from another school.
In a note sent to parents seen by GB News, the children are said to be “feeling very unsettled and nervous” after the alleged assault.
The children, who are understood to be students at Hasmonean school, were not “seriously hurt” in the “frightening experience”
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The incident is being investigated as a hate crime by the police, who are appealing for witnesses.
Officers are said to be reviewing CCTV footage supplied by Transport for London.
A BTP statement said: “Detectives are appealing for witnesses after an assault on a group of Jewish schoolchildren. The incident is being treated as a hate crime.
“Enquiries are ongoing to identify the offenders who are believed to be a group of children from another school.”
The Community Security Trust, a charity that provides safety advice to British Jews, told GB News that witnesses told them that the assault involved punching and kicking of the schoolboys.
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The incident is being investigated as a hate crime by the police, who are appealing for witnesses
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The group added that it had heard reports from witnesses to the alleged attack that antisemitic language was directed at the schoolchildren.
No arrests have been made.
The police are understood to have volunteered to visit Hasmonean in the coming days to speak with students.
In the note circulated with parents, a senior teacher said: “This visit will serve two purposes: to gather further information and statements, and to reassure our students that their safety is a top priority.
“This direct engagement will hopefully alleviate some of the anxiety and fear resulting from this incident.”
The incident comes as antisemitic hate crimes have rocketed in London, particularly since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war started by the terror group’s October 7 massacre.
The Metropolitan Police recorded 1,729 antisemitic incidents in 2023, up from 562 the previous year.
According to polling taken by Campaign Against Antisemitism, 69 per cent of British Jews say that they are less likely to show visible signs of their Judaism.