VILE ATTACK
DETECTIVES have arrested a teenager after two Jewish men were brutally attacked while locking up their shop – on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day.
Shocking footage shows the pair closing the store in North London, when they are then assaulted by a stranger who knocked one of them to the floor.
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The horrific attack saw both men lose their kippahs, with one victim suffering bruising and a fractured hand while the second man was also left badly bruised and has an eye injury.
Police have now arrested a teenager, 18, on suspicion of actual bodily harm, who remains in custody as he is quizzed by police.
Officers were called at 9.50pm on Wednesday to the scene in Cadoxton Avenue, Haringey, after receiving reports that two men had been assaulted.
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said the incident is being treated as a hate crime.
Footage shows the two men leaving the shop, before being approached by a lone male in a dark puffer jacket and dark trousers.
As he walks past, one of the Jewish men appears to exchange words with him as he nervously raises his right arm in defence.
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The attacker then unleashed a series of punches, as one victim raises his foot, but he continues his violent onslaught.
He then punches one of the men in the head but he repeats his attack, punching one of the men in the head, sending him tumbling to the floor, causing his kippah to fall to the floor.
The man then unleashes a volley of punches at the other man, causing him to lose his kippah.
He then chases the other man, before kicking one of the kippahs across the floor.
In the Orthodox Jewish community the kippah is worn by men at all times.
Local Jewish leaders have slammed the incident as a “brutal and unprovoked attack”, which they claim was fuelled by anti-Semitism.
It happened on the night before Holocaust Memorial Day - which commemorates the six million Jews murdered by Nazis in World War II, and those killed in genocides that followed.
The annual remembrance event marks the day the Auschwitz death camp was liberated in 1945.
Chief Superintendent Simon Crick, who leads policing in Enfield and Haringey, said: "On this most important day, this is an awful reminder that hate crime still exists.
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“I know that Haringey residents will be upset by such a horrible attack and we won't stand for anyone in our community being targeted or hurt.
"If you assault someone, you can expect us to do everything we can to investigate and find you.
"I've been in touch with members of the local Jewish community, and I'm providing additional patrols throughout the day to reassure the community. Please do speak to them if you have any concerns.
"I'd like to thank the members of the public who called us and asked us to come to the aid of these two gentlemen and grateful for their help, which meant we could locate a suspect."
Home Secretary Priti Patel described the incident as a "absolutely despicable attack."
She tweeted: "An absolutely despicable attack.
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"This, on the eve of #HolocaustMemorialDay, is a sickening reminder of why we must never allow antisemitism to take root. We won't tolerate abuse towards our Jewish community.
"Thank you to the officers who responded swiftly to make an arrest."
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