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'Disgusting' antisemitic attacks designed 'to instil fear'
Graffiti on Holocaust film poster is among a series of Jew-hate incidents in London since Friday
January 22, 2017 13:32
Graffiti on Holocaust film poster is among a series of Jew-hate incidents in London since Friday
January 22, 2017 13:32A volunteer security group has called a series of antisemitic attacks carried out against Jewish homes and pedestrians “cowardly”.
Shomrim said the incidents, all in north west London on Friday and Saturday, were intended to “instil fear” in the Jewish community.
In one attack, in the early hours of Saturday morning, a brick was thrown through the window of a Jewish home in Edgware.
Images of swastikas and antisemitic messages were scrawled onto the brick, Shomrim said.
A spokesman said: “Shomrim are supporting the victims, who have been left feeling unsafe at their own home.”
That incident followed an attack at around 10.30pm on Friday in which a group of Jews were pelted with eggs while walking home from Shabbat dinner, also in Edgware.
On Saturday morning, a property on Watford Way in Mill Hill was daubed with swastikas.
Police are investigating each of the antisemitic attacks.
On Sunday afternoon, Shomrim reported a fourth case, with the words "heil Hitler" and "f*** Jews" painted on a bin in Mill Hill.
Gary Ost, Shomrim north-west London chief executive, said: “These cowardly antisemitic attacks targeted Jews when they were asleep in their homes or walking with their families after dinner.
“These attacks are intended to instil fear in London’s Jews.
“The best response to these disgusting acts is to ensure that the perpetrators are caught.”
Mr Ost said his group was working closely with the Metropolitan Police, and appealed for any witnesses to make contact.
Inspector Justin Zitver from Barnet Police, said: "Whilst there is no evidence at this stage to suggest that these offences are linked, it is of great concern that members of our local community are being targeted in this way.
"The Met is committed to working with our partners, to tackle all types of hate crime including the use of antisemitic language.
"We will have a number of ongoing reassurance patrols in the borough and I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of crime, or who has any information that will help our investigations to speak with officers. Together, we can make every effort to hold the offenders to account."
Officers have launched "reassurance patrols" in areas of Barnet with large Jewish populations.
Meanwhile, in an incident in north London, a poster promoting the film Denial, about Holocaust denier David Irving's legal case against Deborah Lipstadt, was defeaced.
A Star of David was daubed on the forehead of actress Rachel Weisz, who plays Prof Lipstadt, along with the word "B-Witch".
It is understood police and Transport for London have been informed about the graffiti at Highbury and Islington underground station.
A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies said: “The low-lives who think it big or clever to menace Jewish families over the weekend deserve nothing short of our contempt. The perpetrators should face the full force of the law.”
