The Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police have launched investigations after a Jewish man was subject to antisemitism twice in an hour.
Yosef, a researcher from north London, was sitting on a bus late on Saturday evening when another passenger began to “verbally assault” him.
Footage of the incident was published online on Sunday. It shows the passenger calling Yosef a “f****** Jewish dude”, before getting off the bus and banging on the doors.
He was then subject to further “anti-Semitic behaviour” by a group of young males, again caught on video. One man can be heard chanting “f****** hate you Jew”, while another says “we’ve got a Jew behind us”.
Yosef’s brother says he was targeted because he looked “obviously Jewish”. He was was wearing a hat and kippah that evening.
Siwan Hayward, Director of Compliance, Policing Operations and Security at TfL, said: “We stand against hate crime and are looking into these incidents urgently with the police”.
No arrests have been made yet.
We’re aware of a video posted online of a group displaying anti-Semitic behaviour on a London Underground escalator. We take such incidents very seriously and are investigating. If anybody has any information contact us on 0800 405040 or text 61016 quoting ref 90 of 4 July 2021.
— BTP London (@BTPLondon) July 4, 2021
Antisemitism on the rise?
A Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) survey has found that almost half of Britain’s Jews hide their identity. This is due to antisemitism.
Moreover, three quarters of British Jews said they were worried about the increased hostility towards them, according to a survey conducted by antisemitism.org.
Tougher Sentences
Michael Ellis MP, the Attorney General, has warned of “increases in sentence” for antisemites and racists.
“I warn racists and antisemites alike that I know the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recognises the devastating impact that hate crime has upon victims of communities and is committed to bringing offenders to justice.”
If you have been affected by antisemitism, confidential support is available at:
