EXCLUSIVE: I didn’t feel like I had back-up, says victim of ‘throat slit for Palestine’ abuse - The Jewish Chronicle

A visibly Jewish man who was threatened to have his throat slit “for Palestine” has told the JC the incident left him feeling “humiliated and abused”.

Yochai, who has asked to have his surname kept private, was the victim of two antisemitic disturbances that took place on public transport on Saturday evening.

The researcher, who is aged in his 20s and lives in North London, was “exhausted” and on his way home from volunteering at a Chabad House Jewish community centre, when the occurences took place.

The first incident happened on a 113 bus headed for Oxford Circus, where Yochai was accosted by an individual who yelled, “I will slit your throat for Palestine”.

The individual, who had been seated on the upper deck of the bus, approached Yochai who was downstairs, and allegedly threatened to hit him and kicked his suitcase while other passengers on the sat by and watched.

“They looked quite shocked and upset… but they did not step forward,” Yochai said.

“I felt scared and helpless. As much as I felt that I could handle the situation myself, I didn’t feel like I had a backup in case something goes wrong.”

Less than 20 minutes later, after exiting the bus to take the tube from Oxford Circus station, a separate individual on an escalator saw Yochai and proceeded to sing “I f***ing hate the Jews… we’ve got a Jew here”.

The disturbance left him feeling “humiliated and abused” and “victimised just once again”.

“I feel worried for friends, family and the wider community,” Yochai said.

Video footage capturing both incidents were posted to Twitter by Yochai’s brother and have been viewed more than 300,000 times.

The clips have been commented on by the likes of MPs and celebrities, but Yochai says his experience is just one of many that go by unnoticed every day.

“I just see myself as one of the many people being victimised (for being a Jew). There’s no doubt in my mind that this would just fly by if not for the attention it’s getting.

"I'd like to see more people unitedly speak up and strongly condem these actions."

Both incidents are now being investigated by British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police.

British Transport Police told the JC: "An investigation is ongoing after a man was subjected to a torrent of anti-Semitic abuse on a bus in central London.

"The incident happened at around 23:40hrs on Saturday, 4 July. A man was reported to have made anti-Semitic comments and threats towards another passenger on a route 113 bus near Oxford Circus. Officers are aware of a video posted on social media following the incident and will be meeting the victim to gather further information about this incident.

"Enquiries are ongoing. There has been no arrest at this time.

"Behaviour of this kind and abuse against any individual or group has no place in our city. We will not tolerate it and will act quickly and robustly in response to all reported crimes of this nature.

"Anybody who witnessed this incident is asked to call 101 and quote 8333/3July."

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Police said: "A man was reported to have made antisemitic comments and threats towards another passenger on a route 113 bus near Oxford Circus.

"Officers are aware of a video posted on social media following the incident and will be meeting the victim to gather further information about this incident.

"Enquiries are ongoing. There have been no arrests at this time."