Three 14-year-old Jewish schoolboys were verbally abused and two physically assaulted on a London bus in an attack police are investigating as an antisemitic hate crime.
Police were alerted at 8.16am on Thursday 10 September after reports that a group of Jewish teenagers had been assaulted on a bus around Sanders Lane in Mill Hill earlier that morning. Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s new Community Protection Team spoke to each of the boys and took their accounts.
What police say
According to the Metropolitan Police, all three boys reported being verbally abused, and two said they were also physically assaulted. The suspect is believed to be a white British man, and officers are examining CCTV footage as they work to identify him. Police have not released details about what was allegedly said or what preceded the reported assaults.
Detective Chief Superintendent Luke Williams, who leads policing in the area, said: “The Met will not tolerate antisemitism in any form and we will respond robustly to any and all offences that occur.”
He added: “Urgent enquiries are ongoing to trace and identify the suspect linked to this incident. The suspect is believed to be a white British man.”
A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: “At 8.16am on Thursday, September 10, police received reports that a group of Jewish teenagers had been assaulted while on a bus around Sanders Lane, Mill Hill, earlier that morning.”
Increased patrols for the High Holy Days
The attack came the day before Rosh Hashanah, at the start of the Jewish High Holy Days. Police have increased their presence around synagogues, places of worship and Jewish community sites across the capital during the period.
DCS Williams said: “Our Jewish communities have the right to celebrate and observe the upcoming High Holy Days without fear of antisemitic hate. During this important period of peace, we have increased our patrols in order to provide reassurance, deter those who seek to cause harm and help ensure people can come together with confidence.”
Investigation continues
The investigation remains ongoing, with officers reviewing security footage and working to establish the full circumstances of the attack. Anyone who was on the bus or in the area around Sanders Lane on the morning of 10 September and saw what happened is urged to contact police.
