A criminal investigation has been launched after a Jewish man was reportedly “attacked by a gang while speaking Hebrew” in Golders Green.
Officers from the Metropolitan Police have confirmed they were called in the early hours of Monday morning to reports a Jewish man had been assaulted by several men outside a property in the London suburb.
Scotland Yard has confirmed the assault is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.
No arrests have been made in the incident, a spokesman for the force said.
A Met Police spokesman said: “Police were called at 2.05am on Monday, May 18, following reports that a Jewish man had been assaulted by a number of men outside a property on The Grove, NW11.
“Officers attended within six minutes and spoke to the victim, a man in his 20s, who later attended hospital with injuries to his face and back.
“The assault is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime. No arrests have been made at this stage and police enquiries continue.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting CAD 542/18MAY.”
Officers were called to The Grove in the early hours of this morning
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An eyewitness told Jewish News: “While speaking Hebrew, five masked men walking nearby heard him and suddenly began chasing him. They caught him, dragged him across the road and brutally beat him until he was close to losing consciousness. They tore his clothes, threw away his shoes, and shouted abuse at him in Arabic.”
Sarah Sackman, Labour MP for Finchley and Golders Green, said: “The reports of an assault on a Jewish constituent in Golders Green last night are intolerable.
“I understand that the Police are investigating this as a hate crime and I have raised it in a meeting with Met Police Commissioner Mark Rowley today. The Police are appealing for witnesses and I would urge anyone with information to come forward.
“The recent spate of antisemitic attacks and terror have struck fear into the heart of our community and I am pushing for more action at every level.”
Sarah Sackman, Labour Finchley and Golders Green MP said she had been in contact with Sir Mark
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A spokesman from the Jewish support charity Community Security Trust (CST) said: “This was a violent and appalling attack in the heart of Golders Green.
“The incident is being treated by the Metropolitan Police as an antisemitic hate crime, and we thank them for their swift response.
“CST is providing support to the victim and his family.
“We urge anyone who witnessed what happened, to contact the police and CST immediately. At a time of heightened antisemitism, incidents like this underline the very real dangers facing Jewish communities.”