Hundreds of members of the strictly Orthodox community were subjected to antisemitic “preaching” during Shabbat, Shomrim has claimed.

Chaim Hochhauser, a coordinater for Shomrim, told the JC that a group of between 20 to 30 men targeted passers-by outside Sainsbury’s in Amhurst Park in Stamford Hill, in east London on Saturday afternoon.

The men reportedly made a series of antisemitic statements, including “Jews have long noses”, and “Jews are taking over the world”, Mr Hochhauser said.

The group did not appear to be affiliated to any communal or religious group, he added.

Police officers attended the scene but no arrests were made, the Metropolitan Police confirmed.

Mr Hochhauser said: “It was extremely racist. We have taken a number of phone calls about it. People are scared – scared that a pogrom could happen to them.

“There were a lot of Jewish people there. It was Shabbos afternoon so they were coming out of shul.

“Even the non-Jewish people were shocked. This was the first time something like this has happened. The community is shocked. It is extremely shocking – especially for it to happen on Shabbos.”

Philip Glanville, the mayor of the borough of Hackney, assured Shomrim that council officers were working with the police and “looking to assist where they can, including surveying local CCTV."

He added: "I am disgusted by these allegations… There is no place in Hackney for hate of any kind.

“We are proud that our borough is a place for everyone and we are stronger because of our diversity, tolerance and respect for each other.

“As a borough we stand against hate crime and I want to send a very strong message that we will do everything to ensure those who spread hate are brought to justice.”