A strictly observant man who took part in a pro-Palestinian rally in central Manchester has fled his home after allegedly being attacked by local Jewish residents.

According to the Manchester Evening News, the man’s home in the Salford area of Manchester was vandalised, with his windows smashed and graffiti daubed on the front door and window sills.

The Greater Manchester Police confirmed that the man had been the victim of assault and criminal damage. They also said that they are treating the incidents as “hate crimes”.

One neighbour said: “I have lived here for many years and I have never known a situation where the Jewish community turned on each other.”

Another neighbour said there had been “an almighty commotion in the street”. “There was fighting going on and someone was trying to keep the peace and keep people apart. We assume the man who lived in the house has been hounded out.”

The neighbour also said that there had been plans to demonstrate outside the man’s house and that the police had set up a video recording unit at the end of the road.

“But in the end there was no demonstration,” said the neighbour.