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Police investigating after 'brick thrown' at kosher restaurant in Golders Green
Darna restaurant was closed to the public today, with the premises cordoned off by police
October 26, 2023 12:24
Darna restaurant was closed to the public today, with the premises cordoned off by police
October 26, 2023 12:24Police and the CST are investigating after a brick was thrown at a kosher restaurant in Golders Green, smashing the premises’ glass door.
Darna restaurant, on Golders Green Road, was closed to the public today, with the premises cordoned off by police and an officer stationed outside.
Restaurant manager Roland said: “Someone threw a brick and broke the window.”
He said it was unclear if this was a religiously motivated hate crime but the Met Police said there was no evidence to suggest this was the case.
Staff, who are unsure if their workplace was deliberately targeted, are feeling “cautious”, he added.
The grill restaurant has an Israeli-inspired menu and recently hosted Mayor of London Sadiq Khan who visited the premises three days after the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel to show his solidarity with the Jewish community.
The CST asked the public to refraining from “speculating” about the motive.
In a statement it said: “CST is aware of an incident of damage to a restaurant in Golders Green that took place last night.
“We are working with police to determine the exact nature and motivation of the incident. We would ask people not to speculate until the facts are established. We will issue a further update in due course.”
Tensions have been high across the Jewish community since October 7 as reports of antisemitism have soared.
Following the Hamas atrocities, Golders Green, home to a large Jewish population, has been vandalised with pro-Palestine graffiti, while at least two Jewish schools in the city have been vandalised, with red paint thrown on the premises.
Locals feared an incident at another kosher restaurant on Golders Green Road, Pita, immediately after the Hamas attacks was a hate crime, but the owners and police did not treat it as such.
Overnight on October 8 the restaurant’s glass door was smashed in and a cash register was stolen.
Last week, the Metropolitan Police announced that antisemitic hate crimes in London had soared by more than 1,350 per cent since Hamas attacked.
Between October 1 and October 18, antisemitic crimes surged from 15 to 218 incidents compared with the same period last year.
In a statement, the Met said: "At 08:35hrs on Thursday, 26 October officers on patrol noticed damage to a window at a commercial premises on Golders Green Road.
"Officers are in contact with the business owner and will keep them updated as the investigation progresses.
"Initial enquiries suggest that the incident happened at 05:30hrs this morning and is an attempted burglary. There was no evidence to suggest that it was a hate crime."
The force urged anyone with information or footage relating to the incident to call the police on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously.
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