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Teenager who threw gas canisters at Jewish shoppers to be sentenced

Nineteen-year-old Patrick Delaney admitted racially aggravated harassment but two others accused of involvement are found not guilty

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A teenager involved in an antisemitic attack in which Jewish shoppers were pelted with gas canisters is facing jail.

Charedi Jews were targeted as they shopped at the Tottenham Hale retail park, north London, on January 6 2016.

According to reports, three men in a white pick-up truck drove by and shouted “Hitler is on the way to you, Heil Hitler, Heil Hitler, Heil Hitler”, before launching canisters believed to contain laughing gas.

Patrick Delaney, 19, of Coggeshall, Essex, admitted racially aggravated harassment and will be sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court on February 2.

Delaney's brother, Francis Delaney, 23, also of Coggeshall, and Michael Doherty, 25, of Wormley, Hertfordshire, had also been accused of involvement in the incident, but they were found not guiltyt after charges of racially aggravated harassment were dropped by the prosecution.

Judge Witold Pawlak told the pair: “Be careful who you keep company with.

“You may have had a lucky escape, I don't know, and I hope you learn from this experience about how careful you need to be about getting involved in cruel and unpleasant jokes at other peoples expense.”

In a statement, Barry Bard, senior co-ordinator of Stamford Hill Shomrim, the volunteer security group, said: “This was a disgusting unprovoked attack on innocent Jewish shoppers going about their daily lives.

“A sad reminder of the daily antisemitic attacks against members of the Charedi Jewish Community, who are frequently targeted due to being quite visibly Jewish.

'It is great that justice has been served, after one man pleaded guilty for his despicable actions, bringing closure for the victims.”

 

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