LONDON, UK – A shocking incident occurred in Stamford Hill, a region in North London, where two schoolgirls, aged 13 and 14, were arrested on suspicion of assaulting and robbing a Jewish woman. The area is known for its dense Orthodox Jewish community. The incident has sparked concerns about the safety of the community amidst a surge in anti-Semitic incidents.
The Metropolitan Police detailed the events of the incident, stating that the woman, aged 20, was approached on Rostrevor Avenue at around 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. She was assaulted by two female individuals who subsequently stole her handbag and fled in the direction of the A10 road. The victim was left bruised and shaken but did not require hospital treatment.
The incident’s severity is heightened by the current climate in London, with a significant increase in anti-Semitic incidents following the recent conflict between Hamas and Israel. The police are treating this incident as a potential hate crime, given the victim’s religious affiliation and the fact that her Orthodox Jewish attire would have made her faith visible.
The assault was captured on video and shared online by a local neighborhood watch group on X, a platform formerly known as Twitter. The video quickly gained traction, leading to widespread awareness of the incident. The CCTV footage from the scene suggested that the attackers were wearing school uniforms, prompting detectives to liaise with local schools to identify the culprits.
The Metropolitan Police’s diligent efforts led to the arrest of two girls from the London Borough of Haringey on suspicion of robbery. The girls, aged 13 and 14, are now in police custody. Detective Sergeant Asli Benson, who is leading the investigation, described the incident as a “terrifying” ordeal for the young woman. She assured that the police are pursuing all available lines of inquiry to ensure justice is served.
Det. Sgt. Benson acknowledged the community’s concerns about the possible religious motivation behind the attack. She stated that the police are treating it as a possible hate crime, given the victim’s visible Jewish identity and the current surge in anti-Semitic hate crimes in London.
The incident’s impact extends beyond the immediate community. Last week, the Home Affairs committee was informed about the profound effect the increase in anti-Semitic incidents has had on the British Jewish community. Dave Rich from the Community Safety Trust revealed that many Jews now feel unsafe venturing into central London due to the rise in pro-Palestinian protests.
Furthermore, Gideon Falter, the chief executive of the Campaign Against Antisemitism, shared alarming statistics from a recent survey. According to the study, 69 percent of British Jews now feel less comfortable displaying signs of their Judaism in public since the events of October 7.