A Jewish family on a weekend trip to the Kent seaside were pelted with stones in an antisemitic attack by a gang of youths, forcing them to cut short their holiday and return to London.
The two parents and their five daughters, aged between eight and 15 years old, from Stamford Hill, were attacked at Minster beach on the Isle of Sheppey on Sunday afternoon.
Two boys and three girls aged 16 to 18 threw stones at the family shortly after 4pm, shouting “Jews” at them.
The family called the police for assistance but Shomrim, the London-based Charedi volunteer security organisation, claimed Kent Police failed to dispatch officers to the beach, even though the attackers were still there.
The family returned to London on Sunday, and have received support from Shomrim.
Shomrim tweeted on Sunday: “Jewish family from #StamfordHill were enjoying bank holiday weekend at the beach before being pelted with pebbles by youths shouting ‘Jews’
“#Shomrim supporting the Jewish family who cut the trip short, fearing for their safety, after @Kent_Police failed to dispatch officers”
Jewish family from #StamfordHill were enjoying bank holiday weekend at the beach before being pelted with pebbles by youths shouting "Jews" pic.twitter.com/4GP9W3R2WQ
— Shomrim N.E. London (@Shomrim) May 28, 2017
@kent_police @MayorofLondon @MOPACLdn @MartinHewittMPS @PoliceChiefs @HackneyAbbott @AmberRuddHR @YvetteCooperMP @lordnickbourne @kentpolicesheer #Shomrim supporting the Jewish family who cut the trip short, fearing for their safety, after @Kent_Police failed to dispatch officers pic.twitter.com/VASlKq0vSu
— Shomrim N.E. London (@Shomrim) May 28, 2017
Kent Police confirmed on Monday no arrests had been made.
A Kent Police spokesman said: “During the call the informant left the scene and officers deemed there was no further risk.
“As the informant is from outside of the county, police are arranging a suitable time to speak to the informant in due course. No arrests have been made.
“Anyone with information about the incident can call Kent Police on 01795 419119 quoting reference 28-0929.”
