Man arrested in London after three Jewish women report assaults
A 33-year-old man has been arrested in Hackney, north-east London, after being detained by members of Shomrim, a Jewish neighbourhood watch group. The Metropolitan Police is treating the incident as a suspected antisemitic hate crime.
Police in north-east London arrested a 33-year-old man on Monday on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault, after three Jewish women reported being attacked in the Clapton Common area of Hackney. One of the women was pushing a baby in a pram. They are believed to have suffered minor injuries.
Officers were called at about 13:40 BST after the man had been detained by members of Shomrim, a Jewish neighbourhood watch group whose volunteers patrol the area.
Further arrest
The man has since been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm in connection with a separate incident in Islington, north London, on Friday. He remains in custody.
The Metropolitan Police said it was treating the Hackney incident as a suspected antisemitic hate crime and had stepped up patrols in the area.
Police comment
Chief Inspector Erica Crawshaw described the incident as alarming and distressing. She thanked the Shomrim volunteers for holding a suspect until officers arrived.
Crawshaw acknowledged the concern the incident would have caused the Jewish community in Hackney, and said police were speaking to community leaders to offer further reassurance.
The Met has appealed for anyone with information, or anyone else who believes they may have been assaulted, to come forward.
