Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
Authorities have initiated an investigation following an alarming incident where a vehicle reportedly drove towards three Jewish schoolchildren in north-west London. The event took place near Hasmonean High School for Boys, prompting the school’s headteacher to inform parents about the situation and the Metropolitan Police’s call for witness accounts. The school described the event as an “antisemitic traffic incident.”
According to details shared in the communication to parents, the incident occurred on 20 April at approximately 15:40 BST when a black car approached students waiting at a pedestrian crossing on Holders Hill Road, Finchley. The vehicle allegedly mounted the kerb as the children were preparing to cross. Fortunately, the students stepped away in time, avoiding physical harm. The Metropolitan Police are investigating the case as a “religiously aggravated assault,” and their inquiries remain ongoing.
One of the fathers of the three teenage boys involved, all aged 14, described his son’s ordeal to the BBC. He recounted how his son and two friends, all visibly wearing kippot, were waiting near the school to cross the road when a black saloon car positioned in the inside lane suddenly accelerated and drove onto the kerb towards them. The boys quickly moved back to avoid being struck. The father said no verbal abuse or interaction occurred, but the driver’s actions seemed deliberate, intended to intimidate. He emphasized, “They were visibly Jewish kids. He was waiting at the lights and saw these kids and saw an opportunity.”
The same parent expressed concern about the broader implications for safety, lamenting the sense of vulnerability felt by Jewish families sending their children to school. He stated, “As people who identify openly as Jews and want to show our identities, you feel like you are gambling with your children’s safety.” He continued, urging the public to acknowledge the gravity of the threat faced by the Jewish community and expressed disappointment at the limited public support, emphasizing the desire for a safer environment for all children. Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Hasmonean High School for Boys assured that they are collaborating with relevant agencies to safeguard their students.
The Community Security Trust, a charity dedicated to protecting British Jews from antisemitism, confirmed its involvement after the incident was reported to them. The Metropolitan Police reiterated that their investigation was active, with no arrests made at this time. They also mentioned the establishment of a new Community Protection Team, which will include officers specializing in neighbourhood policing, specialist protection, and counter-terrorism. The incident occurred amid a sharp increase in recorded antisemitic hate crimes by the Met Police, with 140 offences documented in April, up from 98 in March and 67 in February
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.